It is popular to say that government should be run like a business. Those arguing about wearing masks should look to local and national businesses; they will see that masks are good for business. The governor’s mask requirement is a way for us to keep the Flathead open for business. The anti-mask protests that we have seen at City Council meetings and around the Northwest Montana Fair are putting this in jeopardy.

Look at major corporations like Costco and Walmart; they are requiring masks. This is not because they have bought into a liberal agenda. They are requiring masks because it is good for their workers and will keep their business open. They are working to find ways to make sure their employees stay healthy and at work, that their doors stay open and that Americans can have food security.

Our local government and agencies are requiring masks for the same reason, to stay open and working for the Flathead.

Anti-mask protests at our public meetings will continue to shut them down. Why? Because the risk to our public services if we have a spread Covid-19 cases in City Hall, could shut essential work down. This health event is going to persist and we as a community need to work together to make sure that Montana stays open. We cannot afford to overwhelm our first-responders and health-care systems. Masking up, social distancing and washing our hands are ways that we can keep each other safe, keep the curve flattened, and support our medical community.

This brings me to the Northwest Montana Fair. What risks shutting it down is the persistent argument that attendees not wear masks. This does not support the current plans put forward by fair manager. The fair’s plan for having the rodeo and opening the grandstands requires wearing masks. I have been attending fair meetings for over a month and the Fair Board has done significant amount of work to make sure that things like the 4-H auction and events incorporate social distancing and masks even before the governor announced the mask requirement.

What is going to shut the fair down are the calls from anti-mask protestors that the public not wear masks. These actions call into question whether the plan the fair has enacted with the Flathead County Health Department is enforceable. This resistance to the health recommendations will shut the fair down. And I fear, it will shut our community down as well.

The Northwest Montana Fair board has always said that their priority this year is to keep the education components going. They have done so much work to make sure that this community event happens and they are asking attendees to wear masks. Maybe the largest education component of the fair will be teaching the community to wear masks.

If we work together as we fight this pandemic we can not only keep the Fair open, but keep Montana businesses open as well.

Kyle Waterman represents Ward 3 on the Kalispell City Council