Muskogee Leaders Discuss Latest Failure To Pass Mask Mandate

Muskogee City Council members explained what led them to vote down a mask mandate proposal for the fifth time. The proposal failed Monday night by a vote of 4-3.

After the mask mandate failed, the questions are now what prompted four councilors to vote no and what’s next for the city’s increasing battle with COVID-19.

"If you're going to make kids go to virtual learning because of the whole COVID thing, you should have a mask thing required everywhere," one Muskogee resident said. 

"I'm kind of the opposite," another resident said. "I don't think you have to wear it or have a mandate to wear it, but everybody should have that level of decency to wear one."

Councilor Jamie Stout, who voted "no" on the proposal, gave us a statement saying, "I do not feel I can mandate someone wearing a mask which infringes upon our freedoms as Americans."

Councilor Ivory Vann, who supports a mandate, said he voted "no" because the proposal was not strict enough. 

Mayor Marlon Coleman said the challenge is finding middle ground.

"I think there's a lot of misunderstanding about what we're trying to do and how we get there," Coleman said. "The masks do not cure COVID-19, but absolutely yes, the masks help slow the spread and getting that information to the council is going to be critical."

City emergency manager Tyler Evans said the city currently has almost 400 active cases, which is one of their highest numbers. He added he is worried about the upcoming holiday season.

"We're working with a number of limited bed availability, along with our concerns with EMS having to transport people potentially out of state to different hospitals,” Evans said. “Our concern is large gatherings we're going to have next Thursday at Thanksgiving.” 

Coleman said the council plans to vote for a mask mandate again next week.