By Jerry Bellune
JerryBellune@yahoo.com
3 Lexington County communities require face masks in public places.
Here’s how they are enforcing their ordinances:
• In Cayce, Ashley Hunter said, “We talked to many businesses, citizens and our law enforcement to determine how a mask ordinance would impact them. 
“In enforcing our ordinance, we have had few violations and all have been handled positively with a discussion and an instant willingness to comply. 
“Our staff reached out to many businesses and citizen groups to make sure they were aware of how the ordinance would be enforced. 
“We credit those conversations with our Cayce Department of Public Safety officers and dissemination of free masks with keeping the violations low.”
• In West Columbia, Anna Huffman said, “We have established a non-compliance reporting hotline that is monitored by our police.
“Mayor Tem Miles went on the Mota Enterprises weekly online podcast to discuss the ordinance.
“We have sent out a press release, did a call out to all of our water customers, put the information on our website, shared it on social media and updated our hold music at city hall.
“We have not issued any tickets. However, the businesses that were reported have been educated about the ordinance.”
• In Lexington, Lauren Barnes said, “Lexington police delivered printed copies to all town businesses required to comply with employees and patrons wearing a mask.  Officers answered questions and asked that signs be posted reminding patrons of the masks.
“Only a handful of incidents where someone has refused to wear a face-covering.  Exemptions are in the ordinance for when a face covering is not required.”
If someone refuses to wear a mask for a reason outside the exemptions, business owners can ask them to leave and even place them on trespass notice.  In that case, an officer would write an incident report and the person would be escorted from the property.