City returning to ‘normal’ after COVID

Posted on May 19, 2021

The Perry City Council is one step away from repealing its controversial mandatory face covering ordinance, and plans to replace it with a less binding resolution encouraging residents to follow CDC guidelines when it comes to wearing face masks and getting vaccinated.

City Manager Taylor Brown also signaled the City of Perry will soon be “getting back to normal” with all day-to-day operations, including re-opening the payment lobby at City Hall and preparing local “splash pads” to be open for youth by the time school lets out for summer.

After first agreeing to the idea at its April 13 meeting, the city council held a first reading and public hearing on an ordinance repealing the COVID-19 face covering ordinance on Tuesday, May 11.

The first reading and first of two public hearings was to be held at the city’s April 27 meeting, but the item was not discussed due to a lack of a quorum, as only two of the five council members were in attendance at that meeting.

At the city’s May 11 meeting, Brown clarified an executive order from Governor Ron DeSantis doing away with many emergency orders related to COVID did not affect the city’s face mask ordinance because it was not done in emergency session.

Brown explained the new ordinance would repeal one passed last year requiring face masks be worn within the city limits.

“I just hope we are doing the right thing,” Councilwoman Shirlie Hampton said. “We had an uptick I think with 26 cases last week.”

Hampton asked city staff to draft a resolution for consideration at the next meeting encouraging residents and visitors within the city to wear face masks, as well as to become vaccinated.

“Would it be reaching too far if we ask them to

become vaccinated also?” Hampton asked. “Would that be too much?”

“That is a council decision. You would just be encouraging them,” Brown said.

“We can’t make anyone do it. You can pretty much say anything you want to in there,” Mayor Alan Hall replied.

“Please include that in there as well,” Hampton requested.

Near the end of the city’s most recent meeting, Brown stated that he had been fielding calls about re-opening the city’s splash pads, adding that city staff was in the process of testing the equipment and getting it ready.

Brown said he had contacted the local health department, and was told it would be appropriate to open the city’s water play areas.

“If you are ok with it, I’d like to get those up and running as soon as we get the chemicals balanced,” Brown said. “At least by the time school gets out.”

In response to a question from Hampton, Brown agreed that the city would be re-opening the Loughridge Park Community Center as well.

“Personally, I’m at the point where I think everything should be getting back to normal for the most part,” Brown said.

“It is not just about COVID, but we have re-opened the payment center and lobby, added a new window, secured the lobby so it does not connect to the rest of the building anymore, including a door with a combo lock, and all public visitors to City Hall will now go to the payment lobby,” Brown told the council.

According to Brown, the city will continue to have two payment collection windows, and has added a third window for members of the public to inquire about public works, garbage cans, planning and zoning questions or request to meet with administrative staff members.

The outside side door (facing Jefferson Street) leading to the upstairs city finance and city manager offices will continue to be locked for general safety and security purposes, Brown said.

“It is as much about general security than anything else. There are a lot of people doing crazy things these days, and local government people are targets,” Brown added.

“There is a reason there is steel at your knees there (council desk) where you are sitting. Your public employees are sitting ducks in our offices. Even in my short tenure here, we have had viable threats and had to have law enforcement intervene in certain cases. Frankly, everyone was more comfortable with hardening our facility a little and not have a door open for coming and going. As you know our layout is not conducive to the public coming and going.

“We do want to install something on that front door – like a doorbell, a buzzer or video camera system – so it gets a little easier in the future, but in the meantime this seems to be working out well so far,” Brown added.

New plexiglass and signs limiting the number of people in the lobby are in place to protect city staff who have vulnerable medical conditions, Brown said, adding, “We are taking reasonable accommodations while still serving our residents.”

Brown added that masks will be provided and worn (upon request) on an individual case-by-case basis.

“So, what about council meetings? Will we still wear face masks?” Hampton asked.

“That is up to you all,” Brown replied.

“I wear mine,” Hampton said. “I vote yes to that. But we have it now where people don’t wear them, so…..”

After a period of silence, Hampton added, “I’ll just wear mine.”

“On one hand if you are going to consider a resolution and you are eliminating the mandate (by repealing the ordinance), but then again each person has their own opinion. Some have been vaccinated, and others have not, and some have had the virus and feel that they have the antibodies that protect them….it is your call as a board, but as far as from an administrative standpoint, I would like to return all the rest of city operations to what it was pre-COVID,” Brown replied.

“I agree,” Hall stated.

“City offices are about the only place that is not back to normal right now,” Councilman Ward Ketring said. “The courthouse is open, county offices, library, airport and county road department are all open.”

City Attorney Ray Curtis pointed out that the Taylor County court system is still conducting much of its business online using Zoom video conference software.

Brown pointed out that many state offices are still operating remotely as well.

“Don’t we have some responsibility to protect those who come in?” Hampton asked.

“When I got calls from people, I let them know we were completing some renovations, and we had a few staff members with medical conditions that put them at greater risk so we were trying to protect them, most people understood. We are trying to respect privacy issues as well,” Brown said.

“So far it is working well,” Brown added.

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