Muskogee City Council Strikes Down Mask Mandate

Proposals for three different city-wide mask mandates were struck down by the Muskogee City Council on Monday night.

The first proposal was from Mayor Marlon Coleman. He proposed an ordinance that would have required businesses to have a mandate, but carrying no fine for violators.

Another proposal was presented by councilman Ivory Vann. He even brought in a coffin to demonstrate the importance of a mandate and demonstrate the worst case scenario.

The Muskogee COVID-19 Task Force had a similar plan requiring masks with certain exceptions. It would have gone into effect as early as midnight but also carried no fine.

Mayor Coleman went on to plea with people in the city to wear a mask despite the mandates not receiving enough votes.

“This is not political, because at the end of the day, we are all trying to do the same thing; that’s to live and die in this COVID time,” said Mayor Coleman. “It’s just a mask, it’s not a punishment.”