BULLHEAD CITY – Bullhead City Mayor Tom Brady has delivered a strong message to both sides of the mask and regulation debate he says has been heating up since the CDC issued new guidelines as the delta variant complicates the battle against COVID-19.

“We all know that COVID is rearing its ugly head again,” Brady said during Tuesday’s council meeting. “I’ve already started to get the phone calls and the emails asking me or the city council to take some action as we have in the past. I want you to know that no longer does the mayor, or the city council, or the board of supervisors or the school systems have any control over that.”

Brady said action during the last state legislative session vests such authority with the Governor, while eliminating much of the heavy lifting decision-making at the local level. The Mayor read out loud portions of the new state law.

“A county, city or town may not make or issue any order, rule, ordinance or regulation related to mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic that impacts private businesses, schools or churches or other private entities including an order, rule, ordinance or regulation that mandates using face coverings, requires closing a business or imposes a curfew,” the law states.

Brady said state lawmakers even imposed restrictions upon the Governor while stripping local officials of pandemic authority.

“They can take action against the Governor if they feel he is out of line,” Brady said. “Let’s just hope and pray that the pandemic gets over soon.”

 Dave Hawkins