Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

City councils in Valley and Lanett approved state of emergencies this week due to the spread of COVID-19, and LaFayette may not be far behind.

LaFayette City Clerk Louis Davidson told The Valley Times-News on Thursday that a called meeting of the LaFayette City Council would be taking place next week, possibly during the noon hour Monday, to declare a state of emergency in LaFayette.

The Alabama League of Municipalities is recommending that member cities do this in order to be in position to be reimbursed for the additional expenses incurred due to COVID-19.

The current pandemic is putting local governments under major strain all across the country. The novel respiratory disease has caused school and business closures and has caused paramedics and police officers to work long hours under stressful conditions.

The League of Municipalities is encouraging its member cities to record the expenses they have incurred and the ones they will continue to incur as long as the pandemic poses a threat to human health and well being. Cities could be reimbursed for these unbudgeted expenses at a later date.