SEE ORDINANCE

• ORDINANCE

Continued from page 1 was approved on an approximate month-to-month basis, with it ending at a specific time and date unless extended by the Board. Final approval was through a double reading with aldermen Jeff Seay, Bob Simmons, Bill Skains, Jamie Whiteis, and Julia King voting “Yes” and alderman Larry Milton voting “No” on the initial reading and not voting on the second reading. During a telephone interview on October 14, 2020, alderman Milton said, “The mayor arbitrarily cut off comments from the public and would not let the alderman comment on the ordinance for the proposed second reading as required by city code. Just because

the mayor does not like what people have to say does not give him the power to deny them their right to be heard. I did not want to be part of this injustice.”

Section 2-71 of the Branson Municipal Code is entitled “Procedures for regular Agenda.” The Covid-19 Ordinance was one of the items on the regular agenda. Subsection (4) of Section 2-71 says, “Board members shall be allotted time to present their positions and concerns if they so desire.” Subsection (5) reads, “Interested members of the community shall also have an opportunity to express their positions on an item. Testimony or discussion by interested members of the community in support or opposition of an issue may be limited by the presiding officer when the discussion has become repetitive...” After interested members of the community have had an opportunity to express their comments, Subsection (6) gives board members additional time to respond to those statements.

Absent the action the Board

took; the Covid-19 Ordinance would have been automatically repealed at 11:59 PM on October 14, 2020. The Board’s action specifically said, “That Ordinance 20200072...shall not be repealed at 11:59 PM on October 14, 2020.” Further, it provides the ordinance “shall remain in full force and effect from and immediately after the passage by the board of aldermen and approval by the mayor of this ordinance.”

It contains no expiration or automatic repeal provision and remains in effect indefinitely. The city attorney pointed out the various ways the Board could take future actions on the ordinance

SEE ORDINANCE, PAGE 11

• ORDINANCE

Continued from page 10 should conditions change. These were standard provisions in Branson’s Municipal Code, such as at its regular scheduled meetings or a special meeting called by the mayor or two or more aldermen. A press release from the City of Branson on October 14, 2020, said, “The passing of this ordinance means the board of aldermen and cities will continue to monitor and assess the Covid-19 situation and will bring this issue before the Board at an appropriate time in the future.

Before the vote, there was a staff report, public comments, and aldermen’s comments. The staff report, including comments from Mercy and Cox’s medical authorities, cited numerous statistics and data supporting the Covid-19 Ordinance. The majority of the comments from the public were not in favor of the ordinance. Although some gave data statistics supporting their position, one of the primary objections was a perceived violation of their constitutional rights. On more than one occasion, the audience had to be called back to order because of disrespectful behavior.

The extension keeps in place the mandatory face covering require-

• APPLICATIONS

Continued from page 2 • Board of Adjustment – One alternate position open to fill the term until April 2025

To read about all City boards and committees, what they do, and to find online applica-

• TITANIC

Continued from page 2 don. Known by the professional name of Lucile, she was the most famous dress designer of the time. European royalty, high society, and stage and screen stars were her clientele. She had high fashion salons in London, Paris, New York and Chicago. During her career she developed the runments to Chapter 58 of the Branson Municipal Code. These requirements, absent one of the specified exceptions in the ordinance, require mandatory face coverings in all public spaces (Section 58-387). A “face covering” is defined as “a particulate mask or fabric covering of the nose and mouth secured to the face with ties, loops, or elastic that is covering the nose and mouth.”

Section 58-387 of the Branson municipal code contains several exceptions to the mandatory face covering requirements. A significant exception is that there is no face covering required for “any person in a public place while seated and maintaining a physical distance of at least six feet from other persons who are not family members or reside together.” This exception is not applicable in waiting areas and while walking to and from seating or other parts of the premises. There is also an exception for persons with health conditions documented by a medical professional that prohibits wearing a face covering.

The penalty for an individual failing to wear a face covering where required is $100 plus court costs. Any person who owns, manages, operates, or otherwise controls a public place where wearing face covering is required and fails

tions, go to http://bransonmo. gov/125/Boards-Committees. You can also find applications at the City Clerk’s office, located at 110 W. Maddux Street, Branson. For any questions, please call the Branson City Clerk’s office at 417-337-8522.

way-style fashion show and was the first to make models famous. She was also the first to market a branded perfume. Later active in women’s rights, she died from breast cancer in 1935 at the age of 71.

Uniformed members of the crew aboard the Branson Titanic will answer questions that are asked about the Titanic. to comply or require compliance includes a $100 fine plus court costs and the potential suspension or revocation of the business permit or license. (Section 58-390)

The ordinance also requires businesses open to the public to have a sign no smaller than 8.5 x 11 inches at each entrance and exit containing specific language. Signs meeting this requirement can be downloaded from the city website at http://www.bransonmo.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/12769/Face-Covering-Signage and printed. Please note the red letters and white background are mandatory.

The city has a “Face Covering Ordinance FAQ” page on its website that answers various questions about its mandatory face covering requirements. Its location is https://www.bransonmo.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12768/FaceCovering-FAQ-PDF. For any other questions about this ordinance, please call the office of Branson Emergency Management at 417337-8584.

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• INITIATIVE

Continued from page 9 not felt that this heroin junkie’s life was worth saving and given me the Narcan, I wouldn’t be able to tell my story to people who are still struggling out there with maybe an ounce of hope to survive,” she said. “I hope that others get the opportunity to wake up from yet another overdose and remember my story and want to fight for their life.”

Today, Blegen enjoys being a mom to her three children and is looking forward to buying her first home. Providing a fighting chance

Over the past five years, the Stone and Taney Counties Substance Use Initiative has distributed more than 1,900 doses of naloxone and organized 40 trainings where 560 individuals learned to use the life-saving antidote.

Many of those doses have been distributed throughout the community through organizations like Elevate Branson and The Brook Wellness Center.

“It is very important because it saves lives,” said Carla Perry, the former community connections coordinator at Elevate Branson, who now works with those in recovery at The Brook. “People can’t recover if they are dead and they don’t get second chances.” And Perry’s seen first-hand the life-saving medication work.

“There was a young lady that had just lost custody of her child,” Perry explained. “She was distraught and when she went into the bathroom she was crying. Then her husband came in and said she took a bunch of pills. About that same time, someone screamed, ‘Hey, this girl fell.’”

Perry said she knew at that point they were facing a possible opioid overdose.

“I called 911 while I was running to the bathroom,” Perry said. “With the operator on

the call, I administered the first dose of Narcan and she woke up swinging.”

Perry said paramedics arrived and gave the woman a second dose of naloxone before transporting her to the hospital.

The Substance Use Initiative provided Branson Police Department their first doses of naloxone in December of 2017 and then continued to facilitate donations in 2018 until all officers were equipped with the medication.

Assistant Chief Eric Schmitt was the most recent Branson officer to administer Narcan. “I was on the graveyard shift a month ago, and I happened to be around the corner from a motel where someone overdosed,” Schmitt said. “When I arrived, he had what we call the “agonal breathing,” which is known as the “death rattle.” He had a very low pulse and rescue was a ways off, so I administered one dose of Narcan and continued to keep an eye on his pulse. Two minutes later, he took a huge gasp of air and started breathing regularly.”

Rescue arrived soon after and by the time the man was transported to the hospital, he was fully conscious and sitting upright. “Knowing about Narcan can save lives,” said Stan Robinson, clinical director at The Brook Wellness Center.

The Substance Use Initiative makes it possible for Elevate Branson and The Brook Wellness Center to be Narcan access points for people who are in active drug use and for their families.

“It’s important to have that safety net so that people can have a chance to plug into resources and find treatment, outpatient services, or therapy, whatever their needs are to work towards a better life and find the reasons why they want to use to begin with,” Perry said. “There has to be something that caused (their addiction) and if they don’t take another breath, they don’t get that opportunity.”

The Substance Use Initiative is a concentrated effort aimed at reducing and preventing substance use and misuse. The project, led by Marietta Hagan of CoxHealth, began in 2016 and is funded by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant. Learn more at DrugFreeOzarks. org or call 417-239-5165.