EVANSTON (WNE) — The Uinta County Commission passed a resolution last week aimed at government overreach concerning health orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The resolution, which is non-binding and appears to be symbolic in nature, was unanimously approved.

In summary, the resolution states the county commission is abiding by the Wyoming Constitution, which says each competent adult has the right to make his or her own healthcare decisions and decisions for those they legally represent as caregiver.

It also refers to Wyoming Constitution Article 1 in the Declaration of Rights: “the state of Wyoming shall act to preserve those rights from undue governmental infringement.”

According to the resolution, based on those rights as stated in the U.S. Constitution and the Wyoming Constitution, the Uinta County Commission agrees that the competent adults in Uinta County are best suited and able to make virus-related healthcare decisions for themselves and their children or wards.

They also stated that each individual business owner has the right to mandate any form of dress or behavior within the confines of their business, including but not limited to, a facial covering.

“I think it is a statement of their own values and a response to their constituents they have been hearing from,” said Uinta County Public Health Nurse Manager Kim Proffit. “They want to show their support for those who have contacted them. Other counties in Wyoming have been doing similar resolutions. Also, I think this tells the governor that they don’t want him to do a statewide mandate.”

Proffit said the problem she sees with this public statement is that it will make Public Health’s job harder, especially to get people to comply with health orders as they look to their elected leaders for guidance.