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A week after declaring a local state of emergency, the Helen City Commission adopted new rules included closing lodging facilities and other businesses.
A week after declaring a local state of emergency, the Helen City Commission adopted new rules included closing lodging facilities and other businesses.
Commissioners unanimously approved the new ordinance at a Tuesday, March 31, called meeting. Effective immediately, the new rules are set to expire April 30.
Specifically listed among closures are hotels, motels and short-term rental homes and cabins, as well as arcades, amusement parks and related businesses, horse carriage rides, and all city parks and public spaces. Individuals or families may continue to use sidewalks for walking or other exercise, provided that six-foot social distancing parameters are maintained.
The action requires all businesses in the city to “cease all activities except minimum basic operations” (such as taking inventory or bookkeeping). There are exceptions for some businesses deemed essential, as long as customers can abide social distancing of 6 feet apart.
Restaurants are only permitted to have drive-thru or curbside service and customers must stay in the vehicle during the transaction and on-site consumption is now allowed. Restaurants licensed to beer and wine for on-premises consumption also will be allowed to sell unopened containers under the same rules.
Those allowed to remain open includes places such as grocery and convenience stores, gas stations, hardware and auto supply stores, banks, service providers such as plumbers, electricians and exterminators, laundromats, sanitation services, pharmacies, golf courses, home businesses not open to the public and those identified by state or federal government as a critical infrastructure business.
The full ordinance is available here.
Commissioner Lee Landress said that since the city is forcing businesses to shut down, he hopes the city will do all they can to help the businesses when it comes time for them to reopen. Mayor Steve Fowler said he agrees with Landress, and Commissioner Jeff Ash said he talked to Jerry Brown, executive director for the Alpine Helen/White County Convention and Visitors Bureau, about making sure to advertise once the city has reopened.
City Commissioners originally declared a local state of emergency in response to the COVID-19 virus at a called meeting Tuesday, March 24. The move fell in line with the governor’s executive order the day prior, while authorizing the Helen Police Department, Helen Fire Department and other necessary city employees to enforce the order. That includes the ability to close a businesses or other establishment not in compliance.
Prior to the governor’s order and the city’s initial emergency action, many Helen businesses already were adjusting to the COVID-19 situation. Tourism in Helen reportedly had been affected to the point where many businesses, including retail stores, restaurants, and hotels, closed voluntarily.