RAPID CITY, S.D. — The Rapid City Common Council met in a special session Monday night for a second reading of Ordinance No. 6453, as well as the introduction of Ordinance No. 6454.
After several hours of tense debate, the Council passed the modified mandate, Ordinance No. 6454, 9-1. The modified ordinance will face a second reading at next Monday’s Council meeting.
Several members of the public, as well as on the Council, had an issue with the addition of “houses of worship” from the ordinance.
“Asking you to wear a mask is not tyranny,” said Darla Drew, Ward 5 representative.
City Attorney Joel Landeen, when pressed by Ward 4 representative John Roberts, stated that he had not written an opt-out clause into a city ordinance before.
“There are many lives that can still be saved with a mask,” added Greg Strommen of Ward 3.
The other two agenda items were tabled.
Additional information on the modified mandate can be found here.
