RIVERSIDE, Alabama

NEWS

March - MAY 2020

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COVID-19 VIRUS: Important Information

On May 22, 2020, Governor Ivey and the ADPH amended all previous Safer at Home Orders effective at 5:00pm on May 22, 2020. 

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- Riverside Municipal Information - 

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Riverside  City  Hall: 

- City Hall is closed to the public until further notice. Municipal employees are onsite, with revised work hours, for “essential services only" during this time.

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Building Permits & Business License: 

Residents and contractors may continue to request Building Permits & Business Licenses licenses and permits by calling City Hall. Building inspections are expected to continue as normal, as they have not been deemed to pose a significant health hazard.

Business Licenses: Business owners may continue to purchase business license online through Avenue.

For assistance, email info@riverside-al.com or call 205.338.7692.

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Municipal Court: 

- The Alabama Supreme Court issued an order suspending all in-person court proceedings. As such, the City of Riverside Municipal Court will be closed for that period.

Court appearances scheduled for April 9, 2020 or May 14, 2020 have been rescheduled to June 11, 2020.

- Those ordered to complete Defensive Driving School should contact the school for updated class dates.

- Municipal Court Payments can be made:
     By Phone- 205.302.7443
     Online- www.riverside-al.com.
     In Person- Dropbox located outside City Hall

Utility Services:

There is no interruption anticipated in regard to utility services provided by the City. 

Riverside Water Payments can be made:

By Phone- 1-866-729-2549
Online- www.riverside-al.com
In Person- Dropbox located outside City Hall. ​

Police and Fire Administration: 

Access to these departments at City Hall has been restricted for the health and safety of our first responders. The Police and Fire station will remain staffed and fully operational. 

For Riverside Police or Fire Assistance call:

Emergency- 9.1.1
Non-Emergency- 205.884.3333​

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City Meetings: 

For those interested in attending any scheduled City meeting, postponements will be made to adhere to the Public Health Order of the State Health Official.  All postponed and rescheduled meeting dates will be noted on the City Calendar.

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Riverside Community Shelter:

- The Community Shelter is closed to reservations until further notice.

  Parks & Recreation staff will continually monitor the conditions

  surrounding COVID-19.

- The ADPH feels that someone’s first priority should be to protect themselves from a potential tornado. If a warning is issued for our area, you are more likely to be affected by the tornado than the virus.  With that being said, the Riverside Community Shelter will be opened to the public if St. Clair County is placed under a Tornado Watch. 

Riverside Parks & Rec:

- Outdoor recreation in Alabama is considered an essential activity by the State Health Officer Order that was issued on April 3, 2020. Due to the recent COVID-19 regulations, public parks and recreations have not been deemed closed in our area by our local Municipal officials nor by State officials with the exception of public playgrounds. We do ask that residents and visitors follow safety guidelines set forth by the Order of the ADPH.  This includes maintaining a 6 foot distance.

Trash Service:

- Advanced Disposal has stated that there is no interruption anticipated in regard to trash collection as long as items are properly placed in trash receptacles.

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​What is Being Done by the City of Riverside?

- City staff are working to service resident requests as quickly and safely as possible.

- Staff are continuously reminded to employ “best practices,” i.e. frequent and thorough hand washing, the use of hand sanitizer, etc.

- Work schedules are being adjusted as needed to assure that public services do not experience an interruption.

- Resources -

Resources for COVID-19 may be found at the following websites:

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St. Clair County COVID-19 Resource Directory - www.stclairco.com

Alabama COVID-19 Information Hub - www.covid19.alabama.gov

Alabama Department of Health  -  www.alabamapublichealth.gov

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - www.cdc.gov

CDC Official Coronavirus Disease 2019 - www.coronavirus.gov

Alabama Department of Senior Services - www.alabamaageline.gov

SBA Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources - www.sba.gov

The IRS and Treasury Department have launched a new tool to track the status of your Coronavirus Stimulus payments.

Visit the IRS Coronavirus Website

- COVID-19 Contacts - 

To Email Questions about COVID-19:  Covid19info@adph.state.al.us

To Telephone Questions about COVID-19:

If you are having symptoms or feel ill, please call your physician, your clinic or your emergency department before showing up.

This disease is highly contagious, and the healthcare provider can advise you whether you should be tested or not.

Testing sites are being set up across the State. Testing sites are experiencing shortages in screening and testing supplies. 

Please call 1-888-264-2256 for testing site information only. There is no medical advice provided at this telephone number.

For General COVID-19 Questions: 1-800-270-7268

For Seniors: Information may be available at 334-242-5743 or 1-877-425-2243

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Fraud & Scam Protection: The Department of Justice is remaining vigilant in detecting, investigating, and prosecuting wrongdoing related to  the crisis. Find out how you can protect yourself and helpful resources on DOJ’s Coronavirus Fraud Prevention website. The Federal Trade Commission's website also has helpful information for consumers to avoid coronavirus-related scams.

-Orders, Proclamations & Advisories-

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Following are links to the most recent orders and proclamations, with the most recent at the top of the list:

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• May 22, 2020:     Amended Safer at Home Order

• May 8, 2020:        Amended Safer at Home Order

• April 28, 2020:    Amended Safer at Home Order

• April 3, 2020:      Alabama Stay at Home Order

• April 2, 2020:      Supplemental Proclamation by the Governor

• March 29, 2020: President Trump urges social distancing will stay in place through April 30.

• March 27, 2020: Extension Order of the State Health Officer Suspending Certain Public Gatherings

• March 25, 2020: FEMA Advisory

• March 23, 2020: Proclamation by the the Governor postponing certain state tax obligations

• March 21, 2020: Treasury, IRS extend filing deadline: Tax Day now July 15

• March 21, 2020: Law Enforcement Power to Enforce ADPH Order

• March 19, 2020: Order of the State Health Officer Suspending Certain Public Gatherings

• March 18, 2020: Proclamation by the Governor outlining measures of relief during the state health emergency.

• March 18, 2020: Order of the State Department of Revenue waiving late payment penalties for small businesses.

• March 13, 2020: Order Suspending In-Person Court Proceedings

• March 13, 2020: State Proclamation by the Governor

What Can You Do?

We fully understand your concerns and, as always, are continuing efforts to assure your health and well-being.

We encourage all residents, businesses and City staff to adhere to the following recommendations:

• Do not call 911 or go to hospital emergency departments for the purpose of being tested for COVID-19. 

Testing should be reserved for those who are showing symptoms and/or have been advised by their

physician to be tested. If you have a fever, cough or other symptoms of a contagious respiratory illness and

you must call 911 for a medical emergency. Please inform the 911 dispatcher of your symptoms. This will

allow first responders to take extra measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Cover your mouth with a tissue or your upper sleeve when coughing or sneezing.

• Discard used tissues immediately.

• Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer that is 60-90%

alcohol-based.

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.

• Practice social distancing. Try to keep an optimal six-foot distance from other people.

• Stay home if you are not feeling well or experiencing flu-like symptoms. Contact your doctor.

- The Alabama Department of Public Health developed a Public Service Announcement to provide you

with pertinent information on COVID-19 and to help with identifying resources. The information is below.

FAQs

Q: What is COVID-19?

A: Alabama has identified COVID-19 cases across the state. COVID-19 is a virus strain, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, which has only spread in people since December 2019.

Q: How does the COVID-19 spread?   

A:  COVID-19 is primarily spread though respiratory droplets, which means to become infected, people generally must be within six feet of someone who is contagious and come into contact with these droplets. It may be possible that a person can get COVID-19 by touching a surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes. Recent studies from the National Institute of Health have indicated that the virus may live as long as 3 days on surfaces but more likely can live a few hours to a day. Public surfaces such as doorknobs, stair rails and elevator buttons need to be cleaned regularly and people should wash their hands frequently.

Q: What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

A: Symptoms of COVID-19 appear within two to 14 days after exposure and include fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

Q: How can I protect myself from COVID-19?

A: The best protection is to practice social distancing (physical separation) which is defined as 6 feet of space between people. If you have a chronic illness such as hypertension, diabetes or lung disease, please shelter in place and avoid public areas. If you have to go to the grocery store or pharmacy, please keep 6 feet of distance between you and other shoppers. Wipe grocery cart handles.

Q: Can I get COVID-19 from my pet?

A: To date, CDC has not received any reports of pets or other animals becoming sick with COVID19. At this time, there is no evidence that companion animals including pets can spread COVID19. However, since animals can spread other diseases to people, it’s always a good idea to wash your hands with soap after being around animals. If you have COVID-19, it is recommended that you stay away from your pets.   

Q. What about weddings and funerals?

A: Effective March 27, 2020, an order was issued stating that all gatherings of 10 persons or more, or gathering of any size that cannot maintain a consistent six-foot distance between persons, are prohibited. 

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If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at info@riverside-al.com or call 205.338-7692.

MAY 2020

"In many areas, the water is open. It’s more important than ever that boaters are responsible to limit unnecessary risk to other boaters, themselves, law enforcement, and first responders."

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For more information visit

www.safeboatingcampaign.com

February 2020

2020 CENSUS: You Count

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What Is the 2020 Census?

The 2020 Census counts every person living in the United States and five U.S. territories.

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Who Is Required To Respond?

Everyone living in the United States and its five territories is required by law to be counted in the 2020 Census.

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Important Dates

In mid-March, homes across the country began receiving invitations to complete the 2020 Census. Once the invitation arrives, you should respond for your home in one of three ways: online, by phone, or by mail.

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For more information visit www.2020census.gov/