By Joshua Huff, sports editor
Following the city of Springville announcing this past Thursday that the mayor has signed an executive order instituting a city-wide public safety curfew effective immediately, many people took to social media with questions regarding what can and cannot be done within the perimeters of the order.
In response, the city, which has been posting a COVID-19 situation report with updated information on its official website, has released a list of frequently asked questions regarding that curfew:
Frequently Asked Questions?
When does the Stay at Home Orders go into effect?
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- 5:00 P.M. on April 4th, 2020 and shall be in effect until 5:00 P.M. on April 30th, 2020. On or before April 30th, a determination shall be made whether to extend this order or, if circumstances permit, to relax the Order.
What exactly is a Stay at Home Order?
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- An Order from the Governor and the State Health Officer for all persons to stay at his or her place of residence except as necessary to perform any “Essential Activities”
What is considered “Essential Activities?
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- You should read the full Order for definitions and details, but essential activities are listed as:
- To obtain needed supplies
- To obtain or provide necessary services
- To attend religious services under specific circumstances
- To take care of others including family, friends and pets
- To work at “Essential businesses and operations”
- To engage in outdoor activity if you can maintain 6ft distancing
- To seek Shelter
- To travel as required by Law
- To visit the residence of others related to him or her.
Will grocery stores and Gas stations be closed?
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- Gas stations and Grocery stores are considered essential and will remain open.
My job has not been shut down, and my employer has not issued papers for travel. Will I be pulled over and fined?
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- Operators of “Essential Businesses and Operations” are not required to provide credentials to verify their status as an employee of an essential service or business. Police officers will not be pulling persons over to verify their travel status.
What is considered to be an “Essential Business and Operation”?
- Government Operations
- Health-care providers and caregivers
- Infrastructure Operations
- Manufacturing facilities
- Agricultural operations and farms
- Essential Retailers
- Supermarkets
- Pharmacies
- Convenience stores
- Hardware stores
- Gas stations
- Restaurants with restrictions on indoor dining
- Essential Personal Services
- Trash Collection
- Mail and Shipping services
- Home and Auto repair
- Laundry services
- Funeral Homes & Cemeteries
- Educational Operations
- Financial Services (Banks and Credit Unions)
- Professional Services (Accounting, Insurance, Real Estate and Legal Services)
- Providers of basic necessities to economically disadvantaged populations
- Construction and construction-related services
- Essential Public Services and Military Operations
- Religious Entities
What are considered Outdoor Activities?
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- Activities that can be done by one’s self or in small groups maintaining the 6ft distance. These may include walking, jogging or running, fishing.
Does the new Stay at Home Order prevent families from using city sidewalks and walking tracks to ride their bike and walk?
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- Outdoor activities to promote the health and fitness of persons are considered an essential activity and is allowed during the Order. You must be able to maintain the 6ft social distancing and cannot congregate in groups of more than 10 persons.
OTHER CITY ACTIONS:
- All City offices with the exception of Public Safety have been closed till April 13th except by appointment only. If you need assistance from City Hall, please call (205) 467-6133. If you have an issue and need public works, you can call (205) 467-2704. Phone lines are either forwarded, or messages being checked regularly. If you have an emergency, please call 911.
- Senior Center has been closed to all traffic. We are working with M4A to continue providing meals to our homebound seniors next week.
- If there is a Senior or homebound person that needs assistance with picking up needed items, contact CERT Coordinator Janet McCown 205-253-0298 or Fire Department at 205-467-2703
- Library has been closed till April 13th including the drop-box. If you have materials to be returned, hold on to them. All fines have been waived. See information below about items available via virtual library.
- Public Works office has been closed to all public traffic. Payments will be received via drop box and online. Persons needing assistance can call (205) 467-2704 for additional information.
- Building Inspections can be obtained by calling (205) 577-0859 to schedule an inspection.
- Nets have been removed from the City Volleyball Courts to comply with new Statewide Health Order.
- Basketball Court at Woodie Park has been closed.
- All City related employee travel out of the county remains suspended, unless the travel is related to preparation/response to the COVID-19 pandemic or essential travel for city re Municipal Court has cancelled all proceedings for March and April per orders from the Alabama Supreme Court. A decision will be made by April 16th on municipal court in the Month of May.
- Big Springs park walking track will remain open for public use. The playground area and volleyball court has been closed. All Pavilion Rentals for next 30 days have been cancelled. Bathrooms at Big Springs Park and both Youth parks have been locked due to inability to keep toilet paper available.
- All City sponsored youth sports have been cancelled until at least May 1st. We will re-evaluate after 30 days.
- City Department Heads and administration meeting via videoconferencing Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings at 9:00am to discuss protective actions.
- Per the Alabama Department of Public Health Order, all restaurants, bars, breweries or similar establishments shall not permit on-premises consumption of food or drink until April 6th, 2020.
- Odenville Water and Springville Public Works have suspended any water service disconnects until further notice.
- Waste Management has suspended availability of customer service representatives to those that call. Any issues with garbage service are encouraged to contact public works related business that is approved by the Department Head.
Springville Mayor William Isley signed the order on Thursday, April 2, 2020. The curfew is designed to promote the health and safety of the citizens of Springville in an effort to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The 24-hour curfew while will remain in effect until midnight of April 15 unless the emergency conditions dictate otherwise.
The curfew applies to all citizens of Springville. Isley has charged the Springville Police Department with enacting the order.
The executive order does not mean that individuals cannot be outside during a particular period of time, but instead, it orders people to remain within their residence unless it is essential that they venture out.
The executive order states that non-work related groups of 10-or more are now prohibited even in public places such as public facilities, public parks and sidewalks. Other than for travel to perform essential tasks, people are ordered to stay home and remain isolated during the curfew.
People are also encouraged to refrain from inviting non-residents inside their homes.