SALT LAKE COUNTY — In Tuesday's regularly scheduled meeting, the Salt Lake County Council voted to call a special meeting to discuss and possibly vote on overturning the county's mask mandate.
A vote to overturn the mandate was not on the meeting's agenda, but Councilman Dave Alvord made a motion to terminate the public health order.
READ: Utah's governor exempts state facilities from mask mandates
The council then added that item to the agenda. But before voting on whether to terminate the mask order, the council had to decide whether it was considered an emergency — which would allow them to vote on the issue the same night. That vote failed 4-5, however.
The council then voted to hold a special meeting on the topic. The council must first publish its agenda, then will schedule the meeting at least 24 hours after that. They will also make sure the council members can attend.
Council Chair Laurie Stringham said it will likely be held Thursday.
READ: Where to get respirator masks that meet SL County's new mandate
Most of the people in the public meeting were unmasked and unafraid to share their feelings.
Even though the enforcement of the mandate isn’t strict, Alvord says it leaves room for people to try to take it upon themselves to enforce it.
“I think as elected representatives, we need to represent the will of the people and pull these things back. A lot of times when you make a mandate like this, people become deputized — they start to become bullies, they start to take it upon themselves to enforce,” Alvord later told FOX 13.
Watch the full meeting below: