Angry residents react when the Utah County Commission meeting was adjourned before it even started, Wednesday, July 15, 2020, in Provo, Utah. The group protesting against face masks being required in schools removed the social distancing tape on the chairs and filled the Utah County Commission room to over flowing, prompting Commissioner Tanner Ainge to call for a vote to adjourn the meeting. (Rick Egan/The Salt Lake Tribune via AP)
PROVO, Utah (AP) — County commissioners in Utah postponed a meeting Wednesday where they were expected to discuss mask mandates after people packed the room and ignored social distancing guidelines.
The Utah County commissioners cited public safety concerns as the reason for abruptly canceling the meeting, Fox-13 reported. The commission had to postpone a vote on whether or not to ask for a partial exemption from the statewide mask mandate for schools.
Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee had proposed writing a letter to the county’s health director, directing him to ask state officials for a “compassionate exemption” from the mandate Gov. Gary Herbert issued last week.
Attendees booed after the commissioners opted to push the vote to a later date because of health concerns. Video footage shows the meeting was packed with people who opposed the mandate, very few of whom were wearing masks.
Commissioners Tanner Ainge and Nathan Ivie voted in favor of postponing the meeting. Lee voted against it.
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