Indianola residents are now able to move about more freely outside of their homes.
That was the gist of a decision made by the Indianola Board of Aldermen on Monday night, which included a change, but not elimination, of the city’s curfew.
The city leaders voted unanimously to revise their previously adopted stay-at-home emergency proclamation to now mimic Governor Tate Reeves' latest “safe return” order, but with a few minor changes.
Reeves' order went into effect at 8 a.m., Monday June 1 and is to remain in force and in effect until 8 a.m. on Monday June 15, unless it is rescinded, modified or extended. The city's proclamation is set to remain in effect until its June 22 meeting.
Attorney Kim Merchant advised the members on Monday that it was again time to review their prior order that was passed at the May meeting to see what, if anything, needed to be modified.
"Our proclamation is a bit outdated since we still have the stay-at-home order. Right now, what we are saying is unless you have some essential activity or essential travel you are to remain at home,” she said.
Merchant added that the governor's new order lifted all of that.
Indianola's newest emergency declaration is said to mirror Reeves' executive order 1492, which states in part that it is meant to restart the economy and resume community activities safely; however, the city's version includes some adjustments.
Merchant said the safe return order is about people being able to leave their home whenever they want.
"Rather than having to stay home unless there is essential activities, it's really about allowing people to move freely, which they've been doing anyway. The only restrictions that we have currently applying is the gatherings," she said.
Reeves' safe return order includes restrictions on group gathering such as a 20-person limit for inside functions and a 50-person limit on outside gatherings, when social distancing is not possible and a 50/100 restriction on inside/outside gatherings when you can social distance.
One of the modifications imposed now by the city is the adjustment of the time for the curfew.
Indianola Police Chief Edrick Hall told the city lawmakers that since the people have been on curfew for so long he would prefer that it be lifted in stages.
"And that's something that the governor has done, he's been taking steps along the way. My opinion is, I would like to do maybe a midnight and then when we revisit it in two weeks, see how that goes and then maybe we can completely open," he said.
So now, instead of starting at 10 p.m., the curfew begins at 12 a.m., and runs to 5 a.m., which means that people are required to be inside and remain inside during those hours, unless it is an emergency.
In addition, restaurants and dine-in establishments will now be allowed to stay open until 11 p.m., along with convenience stores and gas stations that are located in residential areas. The patrons and workers must be off of the streets by midnight.
However, gas stations and convenience stores in the commercial area along U.S. Highway 82 can remain open without restriction.
The city leaders also chose to stay with the governor's recommendation of a 10 p.m. closing time for bars.
