The Huntington County Board of Health decided to table an order that would have required businesses to enforce mask use and other restrictions due to the local spike in COVID-19 cases.

The board held a call meeting Wednesday to discuss the public health order that was proposed pursuant to Indiana State Governor Eric Holcomb’s Executive Order 20-48. The meeting featured local restaurant owners, government officials and members of the public who expressed their opposition to the order.

According to the proposed public health order which was not passed, all businesses would have to display signage at their storefronts telling customers that they must wear a mask. The only customers who are exempt from wearing a mask under the proposed order would be anyone under the age of two and anyone with a medical exemption outlined by the state of Indiana.

For the time being, Huntington County is operating in the orange color metric designated by the number COVID-19 cases. Restaurants, bars and gyms can operate at 50 percent indoor capacity and a 100 percent outdoor capacity, according to the state guidelines. Bar seating is limited to 25 percent capacity. Social gatherings are limited to 50 percent capacity or to only 50 people, whichever is fewer. Recreational sports leagues can continue with two spectators allowed for each individual playing.

Live music and karaoke aren’t allowed, according to the city of Huntington’s local resolution approved by city council.

The proposed public health order also states that a county could be moved to a more restrictive category as COVID-19 cases increase. If a business entity doesn’t follow the order, the owners could receive a written warning, need to appear before the health department or lose their permit to operate if rules are continually broken.

Huntington County Health Officer Dr. Ringenberg said the order doesn’t replace the governor’s order, but it will add additional protection and continuity in Huntington County. Dr. Ringenberg said restaurants may have different rules and that’s confusing to the customers and business owners. Dr. Ringenberg said the purpose is to reduce COVID-19 exposure.

“Our hospitals have seen a tremendous spike that’s straining our ICUs. We’re at 40 percent for COVID-19 cases. We’re concerned about that. We’ve never seen a spike like this. Since September, it’s up about 800 percent. It looks like it’s rounded a peak. Huntington County has been very fortunate to be in orange status. Last week, we were surrounded by four counties that were red. Now, we’re surrounded by three counties that are red,” Dr. Ringenberg said.

Dr. Ringenberg said the public health order will begin Sunday, Dec. 20 and end Saturday, Feb, 6. He said in the next few months, he’d like to see how everyone is doing as far as their health and businesses are concerned. Dr. Ringenberg said COVID-19 shouldn’t be taken lightly especially with those who are still suffering from the lingering effects of the disease such as chronic headaches and mental confusion.

“This is a serious problem for our country and our county. Three health officers saw this coming. We came together and said we need to do something a little more than what the governor has given us. We came up with some executive orders that are a part of this is from some of those meetings and the city by working with the county and getting their input from businesses and what they think is possible to do. That’s the reason for this potential order. It expires Feb. 6. We’ll see where we’re at with the hospitals. It’s important to be proactive in this situation,” Dr. Ringenberg said.

One of the concerns many restaurant owners had was capacity limitations. Many restaurants will need to operate with half of the regular patrons in attendance.

Legends Sports Bar Owner and city councilman P.J. Felton said he was frustrated with the mandate that was passed and that it makes no sense to operate at 50 percent capacity.

“When people want to go out, going to the bar is their own choice. We’re not asking them to come. They show up on their own accord. Don’t make us mandate people with what they don’t want to do,” Felton said.

Nick’s Country Cafe Owner Ray Bonebrake said it would be hard to pay bills when restricting the restaurant’s capacity.

“If we could operate at 75 percent and pay our bills, we would’ve done that for 20 or 30 years. From what I heard is that the board of health wants us to be the police. It’s unlawful to enforce the law and I’m not a law officer. I’m not sure that’s what you’re trying to do. We can all hold on a while. We can’t hold on to 25, 50 or 75 percent. We have property taxes and bills to pay. I know we’re all trying to do our best,” Bonebrake said.

The Copper Still Owner Marshall Doctor said his bar cannot operate with only 50 percent of patrons in capacity. Doctor said that he thinks this would be government overreach and he doesn’t want to have to completely shut down again like some businesses have had to in other states, such as New York and Michigan.

“The rules are ridiculous. You are picking on the gyms, bars and restaurants. It’s a false sense of security,” Doctor said.

Doctor’s wife Deb, also an owner of the Copper Still, said she appreciated what the health board was doing to keep everyone safe. At the same time, she said she thought the health board was overriding Holcomb’s mandate. She said mental health is at stake.

“The commissioners need to get involved in this... Listen to the people. Don’t do this to small businesses. It’s wrong,” Doctor said.

In addition to wearing masks, some are worried about receiving fines for not wearing their masks in a public setting. When the mask mandate was put into place by council a few weeks ago, protesters gathered at the Huntington Courthouse arguing that it was an infringement of their rights as free citizens.

Blue Collar Bar Owner Tracey Easterday said due to the fear of being fined, many patrons don’t want to come out to bars to socialize.

“People aren’t coming out because they’re afraid they are going to get a fine. This is another reason why people don’t want to come out,” Easterday said.

Indiana State Senator Andy Zay (R-Huntington) said the discrimination against small businesses needs to be put to an end. Senator Zay said that many small business owners have invested their lives into the community.

“As a small business owner myself, the value to those customers is tenfold to the big stores. The value of that customer means everything to me. I think it’s time to stand up with our small businesses... It’s time to stop beating on small businesses. The people who are running these businesses are the future of our county,” Senator Zay said.

In regards to enforcing an ordinance, Third District Huntington County Commissioner Tom Wall said they’re doing their best to try to keep businesses open. Wall has helped to provide personal protection money to local business owners. He said people are adults and can make their own decisions about their own health and safety, but Huntington needs regulations to keep everyone safe.

“We have precautions in our county. We need to work on our education to help others. We need to get our resources back on track. This time next year, the businesses that are struggling are not going to be here. We have businesses and industries coming to Huntington County and looking at our industrial parks. These are trying times for everybody,” Wall said.

Towards the end of the meeting, Huntington County Department of Health Dr. Janelle Pflieger said the public health order should be tabled for more consideration. Approval was made to table the public health order until further notice.
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