HEALTH: Family learning classes at USA go virtual, PAGE 6 Alligator registration PAGE 8 Football preparations begin on June 8 The Courier PAGE 9 Fairhope JUNE 3, 2020 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ going Fairhope adding outdoor dining to open downtown forward with By GUY BUSBY tentative [email protected] July 4 plans FAIRHOPE — The city of Fairhope is opening more By GUY BUSBY spaces for outdoor dining in [email protected] an effort to bring people back downtown. FAIRHOPE — The city of The Fairhope City Council Fairhope plans to continue voted Thursday, May 28, to the tradition of fireworks place picnic tables and tents on July 4, but the final de- in public areas in an effort cision on the celebration to encourage people to come may depend on state health back downtown after many restrictions closer to the restaurants and other busi- event. nesses were closed in an effort City Council members to slow the spread of COVID- said plans for the event will 19. Jessica Walker, director of GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO continue, but the celebra- community development, said The property recently purchased around the Fairhope clock at the corner of Section Street and Fairhope tion could still be canceled Avenue is one location proposed for open dining areas in an effort to promote business for downtown if the Alabama Department SEE OUTDOOR, PAGE 2 restaurants and other businesses. of Public Health does not change social distancing restrictions enacted to slow the spread of COVID-19. Fairhope approves $5.2 million Church Street sewer, drainage project SEE JULY 4, PAGE 23 By GUY BUSBY told the council. “The bid [email protected] price was higher than any of DEATHS PAGE 7 us expected.” FAIRHOPE — The city of The original plan had been Barbara Upton Cauley Fairhope will start a $5.2 mil- for about $2.5 million in sewer James L. “Jim” Foltz lion plan to improve sewer- system improvements, but Martha Alice Jansen age treatment, drainage and soon expanded. other services that will involve “When we start looking major work along Church at the Restore funding and INDEX Street for about 18 months. upgrading the lift station on The City Council voted May South Section Street, we’re BALDWIN LIVING, 3 28 to award the bid for the going to need that extra capac- CLASSIFIED, 15 project to Asphalt Services GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO ity to push that wastewater Inc. through town without trying HEALTH, 5 Richard Peterson, director Workers will be digging up areas of Church Street for about 18 months to use the existing gravity to install upgrades in sewer, water and gas lines. The City Council ap- of Fairhope sewer systems system that’s there,” Peterson LEGALS, 17 proved the $5.2-million project on Thursday, May 28. operations said bids were com- said. “I just think it’s the way OPINION, 21 petitive, but the final price was work, the scope of the project to accommodate all the utility to move forward and it gives PUZZLES, 22 more than city officials had was expanded. needs in that right of way of us an opportunity to add a lit- first projected. He said that as “We added a lot to the proj- Church Street and the bids SPORTS, 9 plans moved forward for the ect as it went forward trying were competitive,” Peterson SEE SEWER, PAGE 23 My mask protects you • Your mask protects me Case Count: ALABAMA: 18,020 cases, 644 deaths BALDWIN COUNTY: 290 cases, 9 deaths Contagion Probability: Contagion Probability: Contagion Probability: Very Likely Unlikely Very Unlikely as of June 1 Source: UAB, The University of Alabama at Birmingham If you think you need to be tested, for testing locations and hours call 1-888-264-2256. For general questions call 1-800-270-7268 Getting Tested or email [email protected]. Calls are answered from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Gulf WHAT Coast YOU IN Media STORE VOLUME 126 • ISSUE 45 IS NOW 1 SECTION • 24 PAGES ONLINE! • Freshest Quality All Departments • Hand Selected by Our Personal Shoppers • Delivery or FREE Same Day Curbside Pickup • Beer & Wine NOW Online! Order & Pay In Store! GREERS.COM/SHOP 2 • The Courier • June 3, 2020 • Gulf Coast Media Fairhope replacing downtown trees By GUY BUSBY Richard Johnson, going to be very, very [email protected] public works director, difficult to put another said the willow oaks are tree back into place.” FAIRHOPE — More growing too large for the He said trees are than 50 trees along downtown street. important to many Section Street will be “They’re a beautiful Fairhope residents, but coming down later this tree, but they really need the time is right to make year to be replaced by a lot of space,” Johnson the change. smaller trees around said. “A willow oak will “I know we’re sensi- September, following get about 80, 85-feet tall tive about trees, but we action by the Fairhope as a full adult. If you do have a problem with City Council. look at the ones in front those willow oaks on The council voted May of the welcome center, Section are really reach- GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO 28 to approve the re- they’re already ap- ing their maximum able to change them out “There are several is a little bit better scale placement of 55 willow proaching 12 to 14 inches size,” Johnson said. “We when we need to.” communities that have of what we need down- oaks between Oak Street in diameter at breast really can’t let them go Johnson said the Chi- planted them,” Johnson town and it won’t be like and Morphy Street. The height and they’re much further because nese pistache trees grow said. “They’re really the willow oaks, it won’t trees will be replaced by pushing up curb. If we we’re not going to be to a height of 35 to 40 a nice street tree and happen instantaneously Chinese pistache trees at let them get too much able to maintain the feet and are more suited they’ll get at maturity or very quickly. That’s a a cost of $22,480. larger, the removal is infrastructure and be for the area. about 35 to 40 feet, which full adult tree.” OUTDOOR for business message order on March 19. idea that we had, it’s in really does resonate “We did that as an the same field,” Walker CONTINUED FROM 1 now, maybe even better effort to bring people said. “It will keep them than in March for that downtown while we were in our central business that while restaurants one day that they were closing streets,” she said. district. It’ll keep them have been allowed to closed,” she said. “We “We wanted people to ready to shop and ready reopen, the limit of 50 want to help revive that be in our restaurants to go in galleries.” percent capacity hinders campaign and we want and we wanted people to The plan will also economic recovery. to get people downtown shop and feel comfort- allow restaurants to des- Under the plan, the to infuse life in our city able being downtown. ignate one parking spot city will place picnic again.” The day that we rolled in front of the business tables and umbrellas on The campaign began that out was the day that for customers to pick up public areas, including as an effort to bring COVID kind of hit our orders. the Fairhope clock prop- GUY BUSBY / STAFF PHOTO visitors downtown while town if you will and we Councilman Jimmy erty at Section Street the movie “Map of Tiny started shutting things Conyers said the plan and Fairhope Avenue City officials plan to place tables and umbrellas in the Perfect Things,” was down.” should help the city. and in front of the city public area in front of the Fairhope Welcome Center as being filmed in March. City officials had pro- “I think that’s a good part of the Fairhope is Open for Business campaign to Welcome Center. City Just after the movie was posed that restaurants plan,” Conyers said. “I promote downtown businesses. officials will also put up filmed. Gov. Kay Ivey is- be allowed to use public understand that taking tents with tables in the “I have no problem “The Fairhope is open sued a “Stay At Home” parking spots in front of up parking spaces that municipal parking area with anything we can their locations to expand may be directly in front next to Julwin’s Restau- come with that will help OBSERVING SAFETY REGULATIONS outdoor dining areas. of the restaurant pres- rant. this city get going and Walker said that after ents some other hazards “We could encourage open up,” Boone said. CALL FOR PRIVATE police and other city and safety concerns. I people to come down- “My deal is try any- CUSTOM DESIGN CONSULTATION officials discussed that appreciate y’all working town, get their takeout, thing we can try and if proposal, they decided through that and coming stay in town, go into our it doesn’t work out, we that placing tables near up with something and I galleries, go into our can shut it down and try traffic would not be safe. don’t know how long the shops and spend their again. But the main ob- Mixing that vehicular 50 percent occupancy’s money,” Walker said. jective is to get this city and pedestrian traffic going to be in effect, but Councilman Kevin back open.” and parking spots — we I think that anything we Boone said the city needs Walker said the plan have grave concerns can do to help would be to take action to encour- is a continuation of the about doing that, but we appreciated.” age shoppers to come “Fairhope is Open for don’t want to just step Walker said the plan back to the Central Busi- Business” campaign that JEWELRY STORE on an idea because we will cost $9,720 for tables, ness District.