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By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – The novel coronavirus pandemic has prompted many changes, the latest of which for Montevallo residents is a public safety curfew enacted April 3 for the hours between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. seven days a week until further notice.

In the unpredictable days of COVID-19, city leaders continue to share updates on temporary facility closures, service changes and resources residents may utilize in times of need.

All city facilities, including City Hall, Parnell Memorial Library, the city shop, police department and fire department, remain closed to the public.

Residents are encouraged to participate in public meetings via Facebook live in keeping with social distancing and gathering guidelines.

“We want to help reduce everyone’s risk of exposure to the greatest extent possible, while continuing to keep everyone informed and able to participate in deliberations,” City Clerk and Treasurer Herman Lehman said.

The Montevallo Golf Course will be closed to the public starting Monday, April 6, as will the Montevallo Recycling Center.

Public parks are still open, but public restrooms are closed.

All Montevallo Municipal Court payments must be made online at Cityofmontevallo.com.

The Montevallo Senior Center staff will be onsite Mondays only to prepare frozen meals for distribution starting April 13. The staff will continue to contact their seniors daily.

In an April 1 video message posted to the City of Montevallo Facebook page, Mayor Hollie Cost shared information about other resources available to residents, including the Montevallo Pandemic Help Exchange, a Facebook page created by a University of Montevallo student for community members to support each other through the pandemic.

“I’ve been asked to keep you updated on our COVID-19 situation,” Cost said. “We do have two confirmed cases locally, and just as predicted, our community is really banding together to help support each other in a lot of different ways.”

Shelby Emergency Assistance continues to meet people’s food needs, and is accepting food donations to keep its shelves stocked.

“Our businesses are doing all that they can to provide all of the resources that we have come to need and appreciate, so I encourage you to support them as much as possible,” Cost said. “Our community has always been seen as a model community, and now is no exception. As I go and look around, I see that people are really respecting the social distancing, and they are staying home. I just encourage you to continue that.”