May 10, 2021 / 11:05 PM EST
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) The Indianapolis City-County Council on Monday night restored county virus restrictions after state legislators’ veto override stripped health officials of their power to make guidelines during health emergencies.
Under the new law, if local health leaders want tougher restrictions than the state issued, a city or county council will have to pass them. The measure also allows the county commissioners or mayors to reverse emergency decisions, such as shutdown orders, issued by their local health departments.
The City-County Council passed Proposal 170 in a 19-5 vote on Monday night to restore the virus restrictions already in place in Marion County. Dr. Virginia Caine, director of the Marion County Health Department, was at the virtual meeting along with the councilors.
Indianapolis keeps mask mandate, business health restrictions despite new legislation Amelia Pak-Harvey, Indianapolis Star
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Indianapolis city officials moved quickly to keep the current Marion County public health orders in place Monday night, just hours after legislators voted to void all local coronavirus restrictions.
The new legislation, Senate Bill 5, requires local health departments to get approval from the local legislative bodies and mayors if a city seeks to enact health orders that are more strict than statewide restrictions.
The health board or health officer also cannot file a court action to enforce a health order unless it receives approval from the legislative body, such as the City-County Council.
Updated: 11:03 PM EDT May 10, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS The Indianapolis City County Council voted Monday to maintain current orders in place from the Marion County Health Department.
The body adopted Proposal 170, an ordinance ratifying public health orders related to the COVID-19 pandemic. This evening, the Indianapolis City-County Council considered and ratified the most recent Public Health Order issued by Marion County Health Department Director Dr. Virginia Caine, said Council President Vop Osili. I am thankful that my colleagues voted to continue standing firmly behind Dr. Caine’s leadership and her commitment to making local public health decisions based on science and data. As we have done since the virus arrived in Indiana, the Council will continue to work together for the best interests of our community. In a time of great uncertainty, our city’s residents can be certain of this: the Indianapolis City-County Council will remain strictly focused
Council expands smoking ban to include parks
It amends current Marion County code to prohibit smoking in parks which are owned or leased by the city or county.
Discarded cigarette butts are littering the sidewalks in Broad Ripple. Author: WTHR.com staff Updated: 10:37 PM EDT May 10, 2021
INDIANAPOLIS Smoking in Indianapolis parks will soon be banned after the City-County Council approved a measure to expand existing rules.
Proposal 135 amends a current Marion County code to prohibit smoking in parks which are owned or leased by the city or county.
“Our city’s parks have been an important refuge during the pandemic for residents seeking mental and physical wellness, but secondhand smoke and litter are detrimental to the health of our children and families and our environment, said Councilor John Barth, who authored the measure.
Moving forward, the council will have sign off on all future restrictions during an emergency.
What could happen in other communities?
When Holcomb ended the state-wide mask mandate and other COVID-19 restrictions, he left it up to local communities to decide whether to keep any restrictions in place.
That means this law applies to all remaining restrictions around the state.
In other communities, there might be more tension if county elected officials, city councils or mayors are in disagreement with local health officers on the necessity of any such restrictions.
For example, The Elkhart Truth reported Monday that commissioners are expected to not re-implement the restrictions put in place by the local health official in Elkhart County.