MAGNOLIA SPRINGS - Amid rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Baldwin County, Magnolia Springs town council made the decision to once more close Town Hall to the public. Last year, the council made the call to close Town Hall during March, when the pandemic shutdown first occurred. Council moved to reopen facilities with COVID-19 safeguards in effect at the end of May 2020.

“I don’t really want the Town Hall open to the public right now,” said Mayor Kim Koniar during the January work session. “The Magnolia Springs Public Library has gone to curbside, which is smart. We closed the Town Hall last year, so now we’re closing it again unless people need to actually come in and sign something. Then our employees can meet them outside or they can come in, sign, and leave.” A mask is required to enter town hall.

Following the shutdown in March 2020, Magnolia Springs began hosting work sessions and council meetings virtually. Meetings continue to be held via Zoom, and Koniar would like to continue with virtual meetings as much as possible. When meetings are held in person, she stressed the importance of each councilmember keeping their own desks and chairs sanitized.

“I felt that out of an abundance of caution and with COVID cases rising so much that we might as well just meet virtually,” Koniar said. “Unfortunately we can’t vote virtually unless we’re discussing COVID or it’s COVID related … From my understanding you have to vote in person, you can only vote virtually if you’re discussing something COVID related, but as much as we can continue to meet virtually, then let’s continue to meet virtually.”

For more information and for dates and links to future Zoom meetings, visit http://www.townofmagnoliasprings.org.