Silverhill announces plan for re-opening

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SILVERHILL, Alabama — Following Gov. Kay Ivey’s ‘Safer at Home’ order issued April 30, the town of Silverhill has issued phase one of plans for re-opening the town.

The plans were posted on the town’s Facebook page on May 1 and were presented at the Silverhill Town Council meeting on Monday, May 4, said Mayor Jared Lyles.

“Most of what we’re doing now is the same as with the stay at home order with the main differences being that we lifted restrictions at the park, resuming municipal court and that we’re opening town hall by appointment only,” Lyles said. “We’re continuing to ask people to stay safe and follow distancing guidelines and we’re hoping that we will announce more plans after May 15.”

Re-opening plans include:

•Lifting limitations placed on the parks and their usage by the town, but all patrons to the parks (including the baseball fields) will be required to comply with the order of the State Health Department, specifically the requirements limiting the size of groups or social distancing guidelines. Failure to comply with these requirements may lead to the patron’s removal from the park.

•The town will continue to comply with the order of the state concerning events and gatherings sponsored by the town.

•Facility rental will be strictly limited and disallowed if assurances are not made that any gathering will comply with the order in place with the state at the time of the event concerning those allowed at the gathering. The town reserves the right to deny rental to any event which it is believed cannot or will not reasonable comply with the guidelines.

•The town’s municipal court has resumed its May docket effective May 1. At this docket, special rules and guidelines will be in place to ensure that the social distancing guidelines in effect at that time will be complied with. Protocol will likely included limited people in the courtroom at one time, allowing only parties and witnesses present at court (no friends or family) separate fast track lines and areas for people’s formal matters (paying fines, etc.) and distancing required while people wait for their case to be called.

•Town hall will remain closed to the general public, at least until May 15. For matters which cannot be handled online, through the mail, dropbox or over the phone, appointments will be available. If an appointment is needed and established, only one person shall be allowed in the lobby of town hall at a time. No children or other parties should accompany the person with the appointment. Appointments can be made by contacting the department with whom the appointment is needed or by calling town hall. All other measures employed at town hall will remain in effect until further notice.

In other business May 4, the council:

•Discussed an agreement with 3PLAi LLC to place equipment for high speed internet service on the town’s water tower at Havel Park. Lyles said the agreement should be ready for approval a the council’s next meeting May 18.

•Approved a quote for tree limb removal on three trees on the west side of town at a cost of $2,650.

•Approved the cost of a survey on property purchased by the town on the west side of town which will be used to place another water tower in that area. The survey, which will be conducted by Smith-Clark LLC, will cost $1,900 and the cost will be split between the town and the party selling the property.

•Renewed the town’s AMIC liability insurance with Blackmon Insurance at a cost of $46,675 per year for a three-year contract.

•Provided updates to the town’s water system and road paving projects scheduled to begin over the next few weeks.