Ames Today

Story County recently passed a mask mandate that has penalties temporarily nullified, according to the Ames Tribune.

The mask mandate previously had a fine and a charge for not complying with the mandate. While the county had pushed for penalties, it ultimately agreed with the Story County Attorney's Office to avoid a lawsuit because Assistant Story County Attorney Ethan Anderson told the county supervisors that they didn't have the power to include penalties, the news media reported.

"I would just urge everybody to be as patient as you can with this and to not let your guard down," Board of Supervisors Chair Linda Murken said, the news media reported. "We're looking at this regulation (from) the Board of Health because they're the experts in this field, so I would urge everyone to follow it." 

Anderson told the supervisors that if they went against the attorney's office's opinion, it would not represent them if a lawsuit was filed against them. Gov. Kim Reynolds also told local municipalities that they couldn't enforce a mask mandate while her emergency proclamation was still in place.

However, Dr. John Paschen, the Story Count Board of Health chair believes penalties need to be in place because with penalties, the mandate is only a suggestion to wear a mask.