FAIRBURY, NE — As pandemic concerns grow around the state, leaders in Jefferson County are imploring local residents to take the threat of COVID-19 seriously.

The Fairbury Board of Health appears to be on the brink of issuing a city-wide mask mandate and the Jefferson County Commissioners are appealing to the county’s residents to do their part in stopping the spread.

Officials say the driving factor in the push for compliance is hospital capacity.

“Please, please, please do these things to protect the ability of our local healthcare facilities, especially Jefferson Community Health and Life, to be able to treat all these other things that come up in life,” Jefferson County Commissioner Mark Schoenrock said.

Jefferson Community Health and Life CEO Dr. Burke Kline says the Fairbury hospital can still handle some more COVID-19 patients, but that won’t be the case for much longer if the current rate of infection continues.

Commissioner Gale Pohlmann says it’s time to take a lesson from area youth.

“The schools have been doing a fantastic job and these kids wear masks all day long," Pohlmann said. "So the question becomes; why can’t we, as adults, go into a building, go into an appointment for a few minutes and wear a mask and then when we go home we can take it off?”

The County Board’s mask conversation stopped at an appeal to the public. The county doesn’t have the authority to enact ordinances.

But, the city of Fairbury does and appears to be on track to do so. The City Health Board convened an emergency meeting Tuesday afternoon and discussed a mandate.  The board was unanimously in favor but disagreed on if a $25 fine should be included.  Board member Ed Friesen argued that city officials should instead talk directly to business owners.

“Asking, ‘would you help do this’ is a lot easier pill to swallow than, ‘if you don’t, we will fine you,’” Friesen said.

The board adjusted the proposed ordinance to say, “continued noncompliance may result in a fine.” Now, the ordinance will go back to the city attorney for review and the board will vote later this week. Mayor Homer Ward says it would be a step in following the guidance of public health officials.

“They’re trying to do some things to stop this and I feel that we should fall in line and do the same thing because it’s pretty evident what happens when getting into the red zone," Ward said. "Something’s got to be done there.”

We did ask the governor for his thoughts on more cities issuing mask requirements. He reiterated his stance that he believes mandates breed resistance but he did say the state would not interfere with cities if they are within their legal rights to impose a mandate.

FULL DRAFT