City Council Passes Mask Mandate for City Hall and City of Glenwood Employees

The Glenwood City Council unanimously passed a motion at its regular meeting Tuesday, Nov. 24, that will require all visitors to City Hall and other city buildings to wear a mask. City employees are required to wear masks when 6 feet of social distance cannot be maintained while interacting with other staff and the public. Employees inside a city vehicle with another person are also required to mask up.

The motion was made by council member Holly Jackson following a request from Glenwood City Administrator Angie Winquist and discussion among council members and city employees.

Winquist said the mask requirement would help ensure the safety of employees and people coming into City Hall to conduct business or attend a meeting. She noted that some people who’ve come to City Hall have been reluctant to wear a face covering.

“Some of them say, ‘I’ve already had COVID, I’m fine,’” Winquist said. “Well, I haven’t.”
Tara Painter, director of the Glenwood Public Library, said her staff already operates under a similar policy, when asked if employees are wearing masks.

“Absolutely,” she said. “If they come out of their personal space and into common areas (they wear a mask).”
Painter noted that some patrons have come to the library not wearing a mask, but have complied when asked to put one on.

The “mask  mandate” won’t become part of the city’s official personnel policy, but department heads are  responsible for making sure their employees adhere to the public safety measure.

City Hall remains closed to the public. Citizens can call 712-527-4717 for assistance or to schedule an appointment. City Council meetings will continue to be held virtually until further notice.

Some other items of business on the City Council agenda:

*Glenwood Fire Chief Matt Gray said rescue unit personnel “have been pretty busy the last couple of weeks” with many calls involving patients infected with COVID-19. Gray said his department is holding up well, to this point, and is adequately equipped with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

*The council approved the purchase of a John Deere 3032E tractor for the Glenwood Cemetery from Uphoff Power and Equipment for $3,179.

*The council approved a park board purchase request of $4,500 to AgriVision for a 6.6-foot blade that will be attached to a John Deere Gator to clean and clear the sidewalk at Glenwood Lake Park. One-half ($2,250) of the purchase price is being paid with a grant from the Mills County Community Foundation.