Tuscaloosa Mayor To Further Discuss Bar Strategy Monday

TUSCALOOSA, AL. — Talks are expected to resume Monday with respect to the city of Tuscaloosa's approach to re-opening bars after an executive order from Mayor Walt Maddox closed 29 establishments on Monday to combat the spread of COVID-19.

"We had a productive discussion with bar and restaurant owners this morning," city spokesman Richard Rush told Patch Friday. "And we have another meeting scheduled Monday morning to continue our work together to move toward reopening in a way that benefits everyone involved as much as possible."

Apart from closing bars, the directive issued Monday also prohibits bar service in restaurants, while table service is still permitted.

Maddox appeared on the SEC Network's Paul Finebaum Show Friday afternoon, where he discussed the issue, saying Monday was a targeted date for discussions to resume once a week of data is in hand.

He also mentioned financial support for the closed bars. The mayor said his plan was to get the City Council to appropriate an additional $400,000 for a small business relief fund for the businesses affected.

The bars were abruptly closed Monday at 5 p.m. after Maddox was informed by the University of Alabama that nearly 400 new COVID-19 cases were identified on the Tuscaloosa campus between Tuesday and Saturday of last week. That total on campus stood at 531 as of the publication of this story, but UA is expected to release revised numbers Friday afternoon.