Monday, March 23 Update

Video Message from Mayor Girtz - March 23, 2020

Watch this message from Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz with updates about the week ahead and feedback on the recently-passed ordinance requiring residents to shelter in place and businesses to take steps to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Updates: Athens-Clarke County Closing Workstations & Providing Telecommuting During March 23-27

All Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) departments and offices will operate under a modified closed workstations model the week of March 23-27 to continue to minimize interactions between employees and the public and slow the spread of coronavirus COVID-19 in the community.

Many non-emergency staff will telecommute remotely during the week in order to answer questions and provide services remotely over the phone or online. Other staff will work in shifts on alternating days and maintain social distancing. In most offices, residents will be able to speak with staff directly even though offices are closed.

Residents are encouraged to call departments and offices - a list of phone numbers is available through www.accgov.com/directory - or visit department webpages at www.accgov.com instead of visiting ACCGov offices to see if services or information will be unavailable and which services will be provided online and over the phone.

Clerk of Superior & State Courts

• Offices are closed to the general public. The public can call 706-613-3190 from outside the door and staff will help them with their judicial emergency.  
• Access to the deed room is available in one-hour intervals. A sign up sheet is posted on the deed room door. One person will be permitted per interval, and staff will wipe down the public terminal in between each interval.

Housing & Community Development

• Housing & Community Development is closed to the general public at this time.
• Staff is available by phone at 706-613-3155 or by email at hcd@accgov.com.
• The department continues to receive agency reports digitally.

Solid Waste

• ACC Landfill will only be accepting cash at the scale. Credit cards will not be accepted until further notice.

• The Tax Assessor requests that all conservation use applications be mailed to the Tax Assessor, 325 East Washington Street, Room 280, Athens, Georgia, 30601. Those who cannot mail an application can request an appointment to deliver an application in person. To make an appointment, call the Tax Assessor at 706-613-3140. To request a conservation use application:
  • Call the Tax Assessor at 706-613-3140
  • Email tax.assessor@accgov.com
  • All applications must be notarized and postmarked by April 1, 2020. The Tax Assessor's office is not able to accept applications electronically at this time.

• Engineering: Permit applications can be submitted by emailing engineering@accgov.com. Staff will contact applicants when permits are approved and to make arrangements for payment. Please contact Erica Thomas for questions at Erica.thomas@accgov.com or 706-613-3440. Inspections will be conducted each day. There may be some delays due to reduced staff levels.
• Traffic: For lane closures, please contact Mike Dunbar at mike.dunbar@accgov.com or 762-400-7837.
• Streets & Drainage: To report potholes, drainage issues, or a dead animal in the roadway, call 706-613-3465.
• Stormwater: No in-person payments will be accepted March 23-27. To make a credit card payment, please use the online service at www.accgov.com/stormwater. To pay by check or money order, please use the drop box locations at the Water Business Office, 124 E Hancock Ave.  Please contact billing staff for questions at stormwater@accgov.com.

14 Positive Cases Confirmed in Athens-Clarke County

The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) case tracker (https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report) is now updated daily at noon and 7:00 p.m.

As of March 23 at 7:00 p.m., the Georgia Department of Public Health has confirmed a total of 14 positive cases of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Athens-Clarke County.

The significant increase in cases across the state - four in Athens-Clarke County since March 22 - is in part reflective of improvement in electronic reporting efficiency from commercial laboratories. These reports often have sparse patient data, and DPH will be working to complete these records, so data will change over time.

The Northeast Health District Epidemiology team is working to identify and notify any close contacts who may have been exposed to COVID-19. The Northeast Health District will no longer be releasing information for each individual case.

FAQs + List of Businesses Considered Essential and Not Considered Essential 

Athens-Clarke County is currently under a local emergency declaration until April 7 (unless extended) in order to help slow the spread of coronavirus in the community.

In the evolving pandemic, the Mayor and Commission may modify allowances related to Essential Businesses by amending the Declaration. Even for Essential Businesses, compliance with the Social Distancing Requirements of the Declaration is required and expected.

“Businesses” includes for-profit, non-profit, and private educational institutions

Not Considered Essential Businesses

• Minimum Basic Operations only, meaning:
  • The minimum necessary activities to maintain the value of the business’ inventory, ensure security, process payroll and employee benefits, or for related functions.
  • The minimum necessary activities to facilitate employees of the business being able to continue to work remotely from their residences.

• Social distancing is required, meaning:
  • maintaining at least 6’ social distancing from other individuals,
  • washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer,
  • covering coughs or sneezes (into the sleeve or elbow, not hands),
  • regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and
  • not shaking hands.

• List of Businesses Considered Essential and Not Considered Essential - Regularly Updated
• Ongoing updates of business FAQs related to the ordinance
• Final approved ordinance

Shelter-in-Place Requirement for all Residents

• residents are required to shelter-in-place 24/7 aside from essential activities, essential governmental functions, or to operate essential businesses (which are defined in the ordinance);
• all public and private gatherings outside of a household or living unit, except for limited purposes, are prohibited;
• travel, except essential travel and essential activities, is prohibited;
• "social distancing" is required to the maximum extent possible when outdoors or using shared spaces, which includes
  • maintaining a six-foot distance from others,
  • washing hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds as frequently as possible or using hand sanitizer,
  • covering coughs and sneezes,
  • regularly cleaning high-touch surfaces, and
  • not shaking hands.

• Ongoing updates of resident FAQs related to the ordinance
• Final approved ordinance

State of Georgia Coronavirus Updates

Although we won't post every state of Georgia update related to the coronavirus, we have posted two of note on the www.accgov.com/coronavirus website today:

• State of Georgia Executive Order by Governor Kemp - March 23, 2020 - Limiting large gatherings of more than 10 at a single location if gathering requires persons to stand or be seated within 6' of another, ordering "shelter in place" for specific populations, and closing bars and nightclubs in Georgia for 14 days.
• Georgia Department of Driver Services - Emergency Operation Plan & 60-Day License/ID Extension - All valid GA driver’s licenses and ID cards with an expiration date between now and June 30, 2020, will receive an extension by a period of 60 days. Georgia DDS customer service centers will cease customer-facing services until further notice.

Information Sources

The response to COVID-19 involves both rapid and extensive changes and also deliberate measures that take some time to consider.

Once official information is released from the Georgia Department of Public Health, the Northeast Georgia Health District, the State of Georgia government, or other local partners, we will report it on www.accgov.com/coronavirus and social media.

Additionally, this COVID-19 update newsletter will go out at least daily with new information primarily about the ACCGov response and plans. It may also include some local area information of note as space allows.