Leah Ingram Eagle
Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer
Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer addresses the community about COVID-19 in a Facebook video.
Chelsea mayor Tony Picklesimer posted a video on the city of Chelsea's Facebook Tuesday to give an update on the response of the City of Chelsea to the Coronavirus pandemic.
“The spread of the COVID-19 virus is having a profound impact on our fellow Americans including some right here in Chelsea,” he said. “How this virus will affect us and what we can do to avoid the spread of the virus is the message that I want to share today.”
The mayor said as a city, Chelsea would rather be ahead of the curve than behind it and the city’s desire is to be proactive rather than reactive to this situation.
Picklesimer said that first and foremost, his job as mayor is to keep people safe.
“The safety of the people of Chelsea is not simply a priority,” he said. “Priorities change. Safety is our core value. It is the number one criteria in every decision we make.”
He went on to share some steps that the city has taken to insure residents’ safety.
- He has met with the EMS Director for the City of Chelsea, Captain Mark Rikard, and the Communications Director for the City of Chelsea, Captain Don Williamson, and the Shelby County EMS Director Hub Harvey who also serves as the liaison to FEMA and established protocols for the city’s fire and rescue personnel that will be followed in the event they call the Fire and Rescue Department during this time
- They have established Disaster Relief accounts to provide the safety materials needed to keep our rescue professionals safe as they care for you.
“I want to assure you that if you call 911 and need us, we will respond,” he said. “We will respond with the same great professionalism and care that you have grown accustomed to.”
The steps being taken by the City of Chelsea to stop the spread of the virus are based on the steps the president has laid out:
1. Listen to and follow the directions of your state and local officials.
2. If you feel sick, please stay at home. If your children are sick, please keep them at home. Avoid interaction with other children if possible.
3. If someone in your household has tested positive for the Coronavirus, please keep the entire household at home for a period of 14 days.
4. If you are older, please avoid contact with others and groups of 6 or more.
5. If you have an underlying condition of some kind, please stay at home and avoid contact with others.
6. Avoid unnecessary interaction with other people. Alabama Department of Public Health has instructed everyone to avoid gatherings of 25 people or more where a 6 foot distance cannot be maintained.
7. Practice good hygiene.
By order of the Governor, any restaurant, bar, brewery or category 3 food service establishment shall not permit on premises consumption of food or drink for one week effective immediately. This order will be reevaluated at the end of one week.
As a city, Chelsea is taking steps to avoid the spread of the virus as well.
- Effective immediately, the Chelsea Community Center is closed to the public
- The Hwy. 39 Senior Center will be closed at 5 p.m. until further notice.
- The Chelsea Public Library facility will be closed to the public but we will be offering curbside service to its patrons.
- All of the city’s Parks and Recreation facilities and complexes and playgrounds have been closed
- All Youth Club Sports games and practices have been postponed indefinitely.
- Chelsea Municipal Court will be postponed until a later date not yet determined.
- Also, one of the city’s largest events has been canceled. The Chelsea Kiwanis Club has made the decision to cancel Fire in the Foothills scheduled for April 4.
“All of these actions have been taken to insure the safety of our citizens and our staff during this difficult time,” Picklesimer said.
City Hall will remain open, but any visits that can be avoided are discouraged. A 30-day grace period will be extended on any licenses or permits that need or require renewal.
The city will continue to conduct business and will continue having council meetings and planning commission meetings as scheduled, including the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17. The mayor requested the public watch the meeting online as it is live streamed on Facebook, and not come to the meeting in person.
With the average age of Chelsea's population being in the late 30’s, Picklesimer said they are blessed to be a healthy community. His request is that if you are in good health and able, find a senior citizen or someone in your neighborhood that has an underlying physical condition that might need a helping hand during this time. Check on them and offer help if it is needed.
The mayor said he believes that God has a divine plan for this and it is our job as believers to seek his purpose through this and to show his love to others as we walk through this difficult time.
“This is not a time for fear or panic. We will get through this,” he said. “We will come out of this on the other side stronger and more determined than ever before. I want to assure you that your city will be here for you when you need us. We are Chelsea Strong and we will remain that way for those that will come along behind us.”
