Phenix City leaders put more closures in place as Lee County coronavirus cases rise
Phenix City is closing its library and recreation centers and taking other steps to combat the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, city leaders said Thursday.
“We are doing everything we can to make sure that this disease does not continue to spread,” Mayor Eddie Lowe said to reporters who were told to stand outside the room where administrators held a news conference.
Reporters from an adjacent hallway asked questions through the door.
Essential city services such as police and fire protection will continue, with some adjustments to institute the “social distancing” that keeps the virus from spreading through person-to-person contact.
Police Chief Ray Smith said 911 dispatchers will be taking more information over the phone to determine whether a police officer needs to respond to a call in person. The information needed for most police reports can be taken over the phone, Smith said.
When officers are dispatched, they when possible will meet callers outside homes rather than going in, he said. “If you need us, we’re certainly going to come,” he said, but the priority will be emergency calls.
Service windows for utilities payments in the lobby of the Phenix City Municipal Building, 1117 Broad Street, will remain open through 5 p.m. Friday, but will close starting Monday, administrators said.
Residents still can make payments at a drive-through window open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., they said. Customers also can pay online at phenixcityal.us/utilities/bill-pay or over the phone at 334-448-2880.
To keep residents up to date on such measures, the city has set up a website dedicated to COVID-19 news at phenixcityal.us/COVID19.
The city announced Tuesday that it was closing recreation centers and postponing all spring sports activities. It said Monday that the Phenix City-Russell County Library at 1501 17th Ave. will remain closed during the crisis, and any fees for overdue books will be waived.
Patrons still may check out audio books online at phenixcitylibrary.com or camellia.overdrive.com, using their library card number as their username and password.
“At a time like this, we need to be as isolated as we possible can,” Mayor Lowe said.