JUNCTION CITY, Kan. — Following the passing of State Bill No. 40, the Geary County Commission has elected to lift the mask mandate within Geary County.&nbsp;"We still strongly encourage people to use masks and social distancing, but they will not be mandated," said County Commission Chair Trish Giordano.&nbsp;Although it will no longer be mandated on a county level, local businesses will still be able to hold their own requirements of mask-wearing and other social distancing practices within their facilities.&nbsp;According to Giordano, the state legislation that has passed, "tied their hands," on the matter.&nbsp;"They pretty much are trying to tie it to reimbursing people their property tax," said Giordano.&nbsp;Those who had been affected by the mask mandate or any other mandate that had been in place would be the ones possibly reimbursed in that scenario.&nbsp;Commissioner Giordano explained that as of now, she does not expect that the county will be in any sort of financial bind over the issue due to their actions of following the mandates set forth by the state.&nbsp;More information on the official expiration of the mask mandate will be release in the near future.&nbsp;

Geary County to repeal mask mandate