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Starting on Monday, May 18, the LaFayette and Lanett Annex will be open to the public. Both cites will be open at their normal hours of operation, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST at the Annex and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CST at the courthouse.

“I want to thank all our citizens for being patient with your Probate office as we have worked diligently to continue to serve you during this pandemic,” Chambers County Probate Judge Paul Story said in a release.

There will be some restrictions on visiting both sites. To receive service, each citizen is required to wear a mask. Both employees and citizens will have their temperature taken once they enter the building. If a temperature is recorded at 100 or more degrees, the person will be told to go home and return at a different time.

At the Lanett Annex, there is a one customer limit per window and one for the driver’s license window. All other offices will designate their maximum amount of people allowed.

At the LaFayette Courthouse, there will be color-coded cards at the security desk detailing the number of people allowed in an office, which will be distributed to the citizen trying to enter that particular office.

If there is not a card for an office, there will not be any people allowed to enter that office.

Cards are disinfected once they are returned to the security office.

“The county commission asks that while you wait outside of the building for entrance, that you practice proper social distancing or return to your vehicle and wait patiently. We are also asking that if you are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 that you would remain home until such a time that you are asymptomatic,” Story said. “I know this will be an inconvenience and slow the process some for those conducting business at either of the facilities but the Chambers County Commission and department heads are striving to provide a safe environment for our citizens and employees as we adjust our procedures to properly serve you during this time.”

According to LaFayette Mayor Barry Moody, the LaFayette City Council will have a meeting on May 18 to discuss when LaFayette City Hall will reopen.

Both Valley and Lanett City Halls reopened on Monday, May 11.

At both locations, citizens are encouraged to use the dropbox and online for payments. Business inside the buildings has been mainly reserved for terminating or starting utilities and business licenses.

At Lanett, there are only three people allowed in the lobby at one time, but in the four days, since it has opened, that has not been a problem.

“People have really seemed to enjoy using the dropbox and the drive-through for the most part,” Lanett Mayor Kyle McCoy said.