City hall may be the last chance for continuing mask mandate as county mandate expires

With Sedgwick County’s hands soon to be tied by a new state law, Wichita City Hall represents the last realistic chance to continue to require masks at area businesses to fight the spread of COVID-19, a county lawyer said Tuesday. The county’s authority to enact a mask mandate comes from the state via the Kansas Emergency Management Act, which the Legislature is rewriting to limit that authority. The city, however, is empowered by its “home rule” authority granted in the state Constitution, which the Legislature cannot override, said Assistant County Counselor Justin Waggoner. Mayor Brandon Whipple said Tuesday that he would support reinstating a citywide mask mandate like the one the City Council passed in July of last year, after the county opted to try voluntary compliance with COVID precautions and cases spiked.Source: Local News | Wichita Eagle