Wylie Mayor Matthew Porter wants residents to know city leaders still deem the COVID-19 pandemic a serious matter and that they should follow guidelines on avoiding contracting the vi­rus in their daily lives and at city buildings, even as the city repealed an ordinance regard­ing the disaster declaration revolving around COVID-19.

On March 9, Wylie City Councilmembers approved re­pealing the ordinance renew­ing the Mayor’s Declaration of local Disaster for a Public Health Emergency to help abate the COVID-19 public health crisis. An amendment to the motion stated that city officials highly recommend the wearing of masks and the following of Centers for Dis­ease Control and Prevention guidance at city buildings. The council approved the measure in a 4-1 vote, with councilmember Garrett Mize dissenting. Councilmembers Dave Strang and Candy Ar­rington were absent.

Gov. Greg Abbott’s exec­utive order, set in motion on March 10, allowed business­es to reopen to full capacity and lifted mask mandates. Businesses, however, can still post their own rules on masks and social distancing. Abbott extended the disaster declara­tion on March 6.

For the full story, see the Mar. 17 issue or subscribe online.

By Don Munsch • [email protected]