Magnolia Springs discusses adding drop box

By Jessica Vaughn
Posted 4/17/20

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS - The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many towns to rethink the way they conduct daily business. With town halls and municipality run buildings closed to the public, business as usual …

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Magnolia Springs discusses adding drop box

Posted

MAGNOLIA SPRINGS - The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many towns to rethink the way they conduct daily business. With town halls and municipality run buildings closed to the public, business as usual still goes on within the structures as essential employees answer phones and assist citizens.
In Magnolia Springs, these changes have brought about new ideas of how to conduct business in the future after the COVID-19 crisis has come to a close. One suggestion brought forth by Mayor Kim Koniar was to add a plexiglass covering between the town clerk’s office and the entryway, to keep city employees guarded from COVID-19 and other viruses as they accept or hand out documents and forms.
Another addition citizens may soon see outside town hall is a drop box.
“Even with town hall closed I’m having people coming here that I’m having to have contact with, and documents passing back and forth between us,” said Town Clerk Jenny White. “My suggestion is to have a drop box that needs a key to open it outside where citizens can leave important documents or checks. Then I could have the key on me and I could check the drop box daily.”
White also proposed the addition of a doorbell to announce when citizens approach.
The council seemed to overall approve of the idea of a drop box and a doorbell being installed, and expressed interest in the purchase of these items for the future. The drop box will be portable, as the building currently housing town hall is rented and the council hopes to move to a permanent, town owned building.
In other town business:
• The town is looking to purchase a lot of land located across the street from the schoolyard property and the Volunteer Fire Department. Earlier this year it was approved to enter into a purchase agreement with the owner. The survey came back mid-April with a discrepancy on lot dimensions compared with a prior survey. With the close date set for the end of April and the county offices closed, Koniar is unsure if this discrepancy will cause an issue moving forward. She plans for the Finance Committee to meet to discuss the payment of the lot.
• Magnolia Springs is working closely with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Department on the ability to tow vehicles parked in no-parking zones near the Magnolia River. Last year, the town council voted to designate no-parking zones along the streets near the river, but have found many drivers ignoring the signs. Council is working with Baldwin County Deputy Sheriff Derek Boone towards taking the correct steps in towing vehicles parked in such zones.
• The town has received an application for a new business; however due to the coronavirus, nothing is proceeding forward until a public hearing is able to be held in the future. As soon as town hall is opened to the public, proceedings will commence.