Face masks are now required in Bluffton. What you need to know
Residents and visitors in Bluffton are required to wear face masks in public.
Bluffton Town Council passed an ordinance late Tuesday afternoon requiring people to wear masks inside any building open to the public, effective at noon Wednesday.
The ordinance also requires employees of retail businesses, salons, grocery stores and pharmacies to wear face masks when near the general public or close to other employees.
The mask requirement applies to all people using public or commercial transportation and all employees interacting with people in outdoor spaces such as curbside pickup, delivery and service calls.
Some people are exempt from the ordinance: children younger than 8; any person who is unable to safely wear a face covering due to age or health condition; anyone traveling in a personal vehicle; a person who is alone or is in the presence of only household members in an enclosed space; and, people who are actively drinking or eating.
The ordinance specifies that a business may decline entry to a person who refuses to wear a face mask.
Violators of the ordinance are subject to a $50 civil fine.
The requirements will expire either when council rescinds the ordinance or by Aug. 31.
S.C. has seen record highs of coronavirus cases in recent weeks. On Monday, there were 28 new cases — 1,148 overall — reported in Beaufort County by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Bluffton continues to lead the county in cases, with the 29910 zip code reporting 303 total.
Before council approved the ordinance, town clerk Kimberly Chapman spent 45 minutes reading public comments from residents who were in favor or vehemently against mandatory mask requirements.
Throughout the meeting, Bluffton’s ordinance changed considerably to more closely match Beaufort County’s proposed ordinance — requiring people to wear masks in any building open to the public instead of just in pharmacies and grocery stores.
The meeting was fraught with confusion as council members, deputy town manager Scott Marshall and town attorney Terry Finger workshopped the draft ordinance in Microsoft Word during the live virtual meeting.
At one point, Mayor Pro Tem Fred Hamilton recommended that council reconvene at a later date to discuss the ordinance.
After about two hours of deliberation, however, council unanimously approved the ordinance.
“In March we had a stay-at-home mandate, and then we opened up everything, and within the last month and a half, everything turned around and we are in a worse place than we were in March,” Hamilton said. “Nobody should have to suffer or die and their family have to deal with this. I hate the fact that we’re being reactive. We can’t continue to look the other way when we do know that this thing is serious and is really affecting lives and families and even our economy.”
Council member Dan Wood described the ordinance as “probably the most difficult decision that each of us has had to make,” but said it boils down to a health issue and “nothing more.”
Council member Larry Toomer questioned the ordinance and whether it was enforceable several times before voting for approval.
“I have been opposed to this ... because ... I’m just not a big fan of big government,” Toomer said. “But, I grew with my knowledge of what is happening. If we can save one life, then I’m here.”
Bluffton’s ordinance came just a day after Hilton Head and Beaufort passed ordinances requiring customers to wear masks inside most buildings. Port Royal and Beaufort County will consider ordinances on Wednesday.
The requirements approved in Bluffton are for people and businesses within the town’s limits. Bluffton, however, has many “doughnut holes,” or areas that are not incorporated.
Although some residents and businesses may have Bluffton addresses, they may be considered part of unincorporated Beaufort County. The Walmart Supercenter at Bluffton Road and U.S. 278, for example, is not within town limits.
Beaufort County Council will consider on Wednesday an ordinance requiring people in unincorporated parts of the county to wear face masks inside any buildings open to the public.
The penalties for violators differ across the county.
Violators of the ordinance in Bluffton and Beaufort are subject to a civil fine. On Hilton Head, the violation is a misdemeanor.
If Beaufort County’s ordinance passes, violators in unincorporated parts of the county will be guilty of a criminal infraction and subject to a $100 fine or 30 days in jail.
On Monday, just before the Town of Hilton Head approved its ordinance requiring face masks for customers in all commercial spaces, Beaufort County Sheriff P.J. Tanner stressed the importance of uniformity among municipalities’ different face mask requirements.
“I would strongly encourage the municipalities of Bluffton, Port Royal, Beaufort and the county of Beaufort to consider having an ordinance that is consistent throughout Beaufort County, which will remove a lot of confusion,” Tanner said.
If the county and area municipalities passed similar rules and requirements for face masks, it would send a “consistent message” to people who travel throughout Beaufort County and would make things “a whole lot easier” for officers to enforce, Tanner said.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 4:59 PM.
