Local emergency remains in place after face mask comments dominate Pinellas commission meeting
April 28, 2021 - Pinellas County remains under a state of local emergency for the next 10 days. The Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to extend the state of local emergency through May 7, in order for the county to remain eligible for federal reimbursements for Covid-19 related expenses. The vote followed about two-and-a-half hours of public comment from about 75 speakers, some who said the county should end its state of local emergency and nearly all who said the county should repeal a separate ordinance requiring face coverings in public places. Commissioners have scheduled a May 11 public hearing and vote on the face mask ordinance. While the meeting was dominated by public comment on face masks, commissioners spent less than five minutes on other business items on the afternoon agenda, including a resolution on affordable housing and a measure outlining the board's federal priorities for the upcoming year. Both were approved with no discussion. A report on Covid-19's impact on tourism was deferred to a future meeting.