COVID may affect Fairhope July 4 plans

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FAIRHOPE – City officials are moving forward with plans to continue the tradition of fireworks on July 4, but the final decision on the celebration may depend on state health restrictions closer to the event.

City Council members said plans for the event will continue, but the celebration could still be canceled if the Alabama Department of Public Health does not change social distancing restrictions enacted to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“We move forward with the planning,” Council President Jack Burrell said. “I think it’s a lot harder to try to plan something two weeks down the road than to start planning now and then, if you have to put the brakes on it, you cancel it two or three weeks down the road if we don’t feel comfortable with it.”

State social distancing requirements in place to manage the spread of COVID-19 could cut the number of people allowed in the area to less than half the usual turnout and place a major strain on police, city officials said.

Jessica Walker, city economic development director, said between 12,000 and 14,000 people gather in the area at the base of the bluffs during most years. Under the social distancing rules ordered by the Alabama Department of Public Health, keeping unrelated groups at least six feet apart, about 5,000 viewers would be allowed in the same space.

“That number of 5,000 people in the bottom of the hill area, it’s going to be incredibly difficult for us to enforce,” Walker told City Council members on May 28.

Mayor Karin Wilson said the city does not have the police to enforce social distancing on that scale.

“That’s really the biggest consideration,” Wilson said. “The crowd can’t be managed. There’s just no way with the police force that we have.”

Walker said the total crowd on July 4 is often as many as 30,000. With the holiday being on a Saturday, that number would be higher on average. She said the Baldwin Pops, which has performed at past July 4 events, has already canceled plans to play this year.

“They are still social distancing,” Walker said. “They cannot practice. They’re not comfortable putting a concert on for Fourth of July.”

Councilman Kevin Boone said the decision whether to attend should be left to the public.

“Telling people what they can and can’t do when they should know that they ought to do, it’s getting a little old here and we’re opening up the streets, we’re opening up the stores and I just feel that if you don’t want to go, then don’t go,” Boone said. “If you feel unsafe, the same as the restaurants or any other store. If you feel unsafe, then you need to stay at home.”

Walker said that if an outbreak occurred that could be traced to the Fairhope July 4 event scheduled by Fairhope, the city could be sued.

“The issue is if we have an outbreak that is right there in the city of Fairhope, if there is an outbreak and someone files a civil lawsuit against the city, we could be liable as a city if we can’t enforce it,” Walker said.

Councilman Jay Robinson said the city can study the issue during June and make a final decision before the event.

“If it doesn’t change, it unfortunately, may be that we can’t have this,” Robinson said. “Disneyworld canceled their fireworks when they reopened. Anything that gathers a large crowd. I’ll take a wait and see and hopefully we’ll get some good news in