CHATTOOGA COUNTY OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Chattooga County is working hard to ensure the health and safety of our employees that deliver critical services as well as the safety and welfare of our residents. With 24 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 2 confirmed deaths certain departments within Chattooga County will be limiting operations until further notice. All County facilities will operate under limited access to the public according to the Governor’s Emergency Health Order.   In accordance with that Order some county employees that are able to,  will telework or work in staggered shifts.   Please contact the specific office that you are needing to access to allow them to assist you in providing essential services.     Specific information for the departments is listed below.  With the fluid nature of this pandemic, operations can change at any time.  Chattooga County will continue to update citizens through local media channels and social media on the Chattooga County, Georgia EMA/ 911 on Facebook.  Please contact the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office at 706-857-0700 for more information and all department contacts and phone numbers are listed on our County website www.chattoogacounty.org by clicking on the Government Tab.  Our intent is to update this daily with any new information or changes for departments that may occur and post on the Chattooga County EMA/911 Facebook and the www.chattoogacounty.org website.

* Governor Kemp’s Emergency Public Health Order has been extended to June 12, 2020. Chattooga County Government Offices will continue to operate on limited access, limited staff and teleworking  through June 1, 2020.  Please contact any office with any questions concerning the order. 

Monitoring Data for Chattooga County

 

• 24 confirmed cases and 2 deaths in Chattooga County per Georgia Department of Public Health at 1:00 PM today.  Please watch the Georgia Department of Public Health Website at https://dph.georgia.gov/georgia-department-public-health-covid-19-daily-status-reportfor COVID-19 official case counts released each day at 9:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM.
• Urgent Care Patient In-take Level-Low
• Unacast Cell Movement Data- County Score of F with less than 25% decrease in cell phone movement data and less than 55% decrease in non essential trips.   This information can be tracked at https://www.unacast.com/covid19/social-distancing-scoreboard.  This information was last updated 5/27/2020 on Unacast.
• Chattooga Case Rate per 100,000 people :          96.91

Floyd-                  248.21

Walker-              152.28

Dade-                  167.06

Gordon-             241.18

Catoosa-            165.77

Bartow-              410.76

This information is to be used to compare case counts across counties.  This is a list of counties in our region and is provided from the Georgia Department of Public Health in their daily update. 

 

Please limit movement and take social distancing steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 

Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office-  The Commissioner’s Office will operate under limited access to the public but will be accessible by contacting 706-857-0700 or 706 857-0701.

Superior Court—  The Judicial Emergency Order has been extended through June 12, 2020.

Clerk of Court Office—   The Chattooga County Clerk’s Office is open for ESSENTIAL matters.  We will be at work and able to help you by phone or through online services.  See information below.

Clerk’s Office – 706/857-0706

Pay your (County) traffic tickets – www.payyourtix.com

Real Estate efiling & search – www.gsccca.org

Real Estate search – gasearch.kofile.us

Civil efiling – www.peachcourt.com

 

Probate Court & Elections –   Our office has been and will continue to be open for ESSENTIAL matters with the exception of the following directions.  We are alternating our work days manning the office with one person at a time.  Judge Payne is getting his messages and can operate from his home.

There is a correction sent from the State Office of Vital Records:   We will continue to accept ESSENTIAL walk-in requests.  You need to complete a written request form in the hallway with your pertinent information, present photo ID, and pay $25.

Marriage licenses may still be applied for only under ESSENTIAL needs.  You must apply online at georgiaprobaterecords.com, call our office to verify we have received the transmittal, and make an appointment for a marriage license.  You must present photo ID and a final divorce decree or death certificate if you have a previous marriage.  Marriage licenses are $66 without counseling and $26 with 6 hours of certified counseling.

New gun permits cannot be applied for during this time.  If you already have a license and your expiration date is coming up we will extend the time period with no penalty.

Chattooga County EMA/911–  The office will be closed to the public but citizens can access the non emergency number at 706-857-3400 or in an emergency call 911.  Also please follow the Chattooga County EMA/911 Facebook Page for the most updated information.

 

Chattooga County Health Department-   Currently, the Chattooga County Health Department is providing essential services only, such as for Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases. We are trying to provide WIC via telephone with an online nutrition component. This can change quickly daily based on our role. Please call our office for details in place of coming into the clinic.   706-857-3471

Chattooga County citizens with symptoms of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), such as fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath, may receive free testing provided by public health.

The following people without symptoms may also be tested:

0. Healthcare workers, first responders, and other front line and critical infrastructure workers that have been exposed to COVID-19
1. Residents of a long-term care facility or other group residential setting experiencing an outbreak of COVID-19

Call 706-802-5329 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday to be screened for testing.

 Chattooga County Extension Service (4-H) –   The Chattooga County Extension Service will operate under limited access to the public but will be accessible by contacting 706-857-0744 or uge1055@uga.edu .  Individual Staff can be reached through email as follows:

Rebecca Thomas, County Extension Coordinator rbt@uga.edu ; Kim Snow, Administrative Assistant kpsnow@uga.edu ; Zach White, 4-H Agent zwhite@uga.edu ; Kendra Stallings, ANR Program Assistant ks6@uga.edu ; and Claudia Navichoque, EFNEP Program Assistant cnavichoque@uga.edu . We are still open and conducting business practicing social distancing via teleworking. Citizens can stay updated on resources through our webpage www.ugaextension.org/chattooga or exploring the Chattooga County Extension Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/chattoogaext/

Some Current Points of Interest within Extension Programming:

0. https://extension.uga.edu/topic-areas/timely-topics/emergencies.html – COVID- 19 resources from Governmental and Agency Resources along with virtual resources for families
1. Home Gardening Resources – https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/chattooga/agriculture-and-natural-resources/home-gardening-.html including a growing calendar, planting chart, Starting a Home Garden, Gardening in Containers, and several videos for reference
2. https://extension.uga.edu/content/extension/publications/series/detail.html?id=71&name=Home%20Garden Home Garden Publications
3. https://www.facebook.com/chattoogaext/ – Daily post surrounding educational zoom sessions and learning opportunities
4. Sign Ups are being taken for Cooking on a Budget On-line Classes.  All interested individuals must send an email to rbt@uga.edu for registration information
5. The CDC Diabetic Prevention Program is meeting weekly via Zoom on the virtually on-line platform.

 

District Attorney’s Office—  To be updated

Juvenile Court—  To be updated

State Court – ( Judge John Dennis) Because of Honorable Melton’s recently issued an amended order governing the Judicial Branch, the Supreme Court of Georgia down to lower courts.  The order addressed the Coronavirus and cases that must be heard and cases that should be continued.  Inasmuch as misdemeanors do not constitute a case that must be heard, State Court cases for Chattooga County, both arraignments and trials, will be continued until June of this year.  The arraignments will be on Monday, June 22, 2020, and the bench trials will be on Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

As we will be handling three months of arraignments and trials, State Court will be held in the main courtroom rather than in the annex.  Subpoenas will be mailed later this week or early next week (the first full week of May or the second full week).  We will call a few Defendants at a time in order to do our best to maintain social distancing and to protect the Defendants and our employees.  While the Courts are open to the public, we would encourage Defendants to come alone particularly if their intention is only to enter a not guilty plea and to have their cases tried in July.

Probationers currently under sentence are to continue to report as directed by the Chief Probation Officer Hannah Goodrich.

 Sheriff’s Office/Jail— Deputies respond to and meet with many citizens throughout their shift and often times within the citizens home. Sheriff’s Office staff have been asked to avoid shaking hands, stand about 6 feet away from citizens that they are meeting or talking with. Also, if you request a deputy for a report or other reason please step outside, if feasible, and meet with them. Deputies have been authorized to handle certain reports via telephone. These precautionary measures will not hinder or damper a criminal investigation.

Jail: Since we have a large population of individuals housed in a confined space, we will be taking precautionary measures at the jail as well. The one that will most likely affect family of incarcerated persons are revised visitation schedules. Also, services where outside individuals are allowed to meet with inmates i.e. church services and drug counseling services are suspended for now.

 

Registrar’s Office– The General Primary (originally scheduled for May 19, 2020) and the continuation of the Presidential Preference Primary (originally scheduled for March 24, 2020) have been moved to June 9, 2020.  Advance Voting is underway for these primaries.  Due to social distancing and ballot length, there have been lines outside of our building most of the day.

Absentee By Mail ballots are a great way for voters to cast a ballot from the privacy of their homes.  It is also a great way to practice social distancing while casting your ballot and to avoid the lines of in person voting.  The My Voter Page (located at  https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do) is a great tool for voters. From the My Voter Page, or the GA Votes app, you can access the application for an absentee ballot, your sample ballots, check the status of your absentee ballot, find Advance Voting information, find links to information about your representatives as well as information on which candidates are running for the offices you elect, and see your name and address as registered.  (Note: Sample ballots for the June 9, 2020 primary contain the presidential race regardless if you have already voted or not.  Your actual ballot will not contain President if you already voted in March.)

Absentee By Mail Information:
* For an application for an absentee ballot, visit https://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Absentee_Ballot_Application_2018.pdf or https://sos.ga.gov/admin/files/Fillable%20Absentee%20Ballot%20Form%2020.pdf  
* All requests must include a signature of the person making the request. You may make a request on behalf of a family member who is disabled or temporarily living outside of the county. All other requests must be made by the voter.
* Electronic signatures are not accepted.
* Party selection is required because this is a primary. Voters may choose between Democratic, Republican, or Non-Partisan. (Non-Partisan ballots do not contain Democratic or Republican races/questions.)  Sample ballots are on the My Voter Page for all three parties.  Note: The sample ballots will not reflect if you voted in March, but your actual ballot will.
* Absentee ballot applications may be accepted by mail, email, or fax and must be received by close of business on June 5, 2020.
* Absentee By Mail Ballots must be received by June 9, 2020 and are accepted through the mail or personally delivered to our office.

* Absentee ballots contain a privacy sleeve in place of an envelope.  The sleeves do not need to be sealed inside of the outer envelope.  A ballot is still valid if the ballot is not enclosed inside the privacy sleeve.

* The oath must be signed on absentee ballots and the signature must match our files.  If the signature is missing or does not match, the voter will have an opportunity to rectify the situation in order for the ballot to still count.

Registration/Record Update Information:

* To find an application to register to vote, go to registertovote.sos.ga.gov
* Registration applications (or an application updating information for an already registered voter) are accepted by mail. They are not accepted by fax or email. You may also submit a registration application online if you have a Georgia Driver’s License or State Issued ID card (ID only card issued by the Department of Driver Services), your name has not changed since your ID was issued, and you give permission to the Department of Driver Services to share your signature with our office.

* The registration deadline was May 11, 2020.

Advance Voting Information:
* Advance Voting will begin May 18, 2020 for the General Primary and the continuation of the Presidential Preference Primary.
* During this time, individuals who have not already cast a ballot in the Presidential Preference Primary who select either a Democratic or a Republican ballot will also receive the Presidential Preference Primary on the ballot. Individuals who already cast a ballot in the Presidential Preference Primary will only receive a ballot for the General Primary.

* There is a limit to the number of people in the Advance Voting location at one time.  Voters may need to wait outside until there is enough space to accommodate them inside.

* Voters are encouraged to review sample ballots prior to entering the voting area.

* Advance Voting hours are 8:30 AM – 5 PM on weekdays and 9 AM – 4 PM on Saturday, May 30.  There is no Advance Voting on Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day.

Public Works—Chattooga County Public Works will continue to operate with appropriate distancing procedures in place.

Chattooga County Sanitation and Remote Dump Sites—    The Transfer Station will remain open and the Remote Dump sites will remain open.  Remote Site attendants have been directed to keep a safe distance and not assist with dumping trash or recycling material.  Citizens will need to be able to dispose of their refuse and recyclable items without the assistance of the attendants.  Please remember that only household garbage may be disposed of at the remote sites.

Tax Assessors’ Office—Starting Monday, March 16, 2020, the Chattooga County Tax Assessors’ office, located at the Chattooga County Courthouse Annex, will be closed to public access.  Citizens can visit https://www.qpublic.net/chattooga  to determine a method of application and/or delivery for Real Property Returns, Personal Property Returns, Homestead Exemption Applications, etc., which will still be accepted.  The property appraisal staff will continue to visit properties during this time but will refrain from as much face-to-face interaction as possible.

The Tax Assessor’s Office is waiting on guidance from the Department of Revenue on extensions for certain filing deadlines.  Once this notification is made it will be released and possible extensions put in place.

Tax Commissioner’s Office—Beginning Monday, May 4th, the Tax and Tag office will operate with one window open to help one customer at a time.  We do ask that if a customer is inside, citizens wait until that person leaves before entering the office.  Employees will be wearing masks, and we ask that customers maintain 6 feet distance from the windows at all times.  This week will serve as a trial and this could change depending on how it goes.  We can still help customers by phone (706-857-0703), by using the outside drop box or online at www.chattoogatax.com.  The Georgia Department of Revenue (DOR) has announced the renewal date for all vehicle registrations that expire between March 15, 2020 and June 13, 2020 has been extended through June 15, 2020.

Magistrate Court—The Magistrate Court will work with the Superior Court and the Chattooga County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the safety of all citizens who use Magistrate Court and our employees. We realize this may delay the scheduling of cases beyond the normal times and hope that the citizens understand the reason why. We continue to monitor the situation and appreciate the understanding of our customers.  Citizens are urged to call our office if they have any questions or concerns.

Chattooga County Animal Control– We currently are asking all citizens who wish to surrender a pet to call and make an appointment. We will take all the information needed over the phone for the surrender and email a surrender form to be signed and sent back.  When you arrive, we ask that you please stay in the vehicle and call the shelter at 706-857-0679. We will come out to the vehicle to retrieve the animal and complete the process.

Chattooga County Water Department—The Chattooga County Water Department will continue to offer current level of services as long as staffing is available to support.  They request that customers attempt to make payments via mail, online, or by telephone instead of in-person, if possible.  Any customers wishing to start a new service should make the initial request via telephone at 706-734-2827 as opposed to in-person.  In some instances, the transaction may be completed without an in-person visit.  At any rate, the initial phone can provide an opportunity to share any information necessary to minimize the amount of time required in the office.  You can pay your bill online at www.chattoogawater.org.

 

Chattooga County Senior Center-  The Chattooga County Senior Center will be closed for activities for the next two weeks.  Home meal delivery will continue.  Currently all Senior Citizens  that normally attend the Senior are being delivered a meal now.   Extra meals have been ordered and we currently are able to fill all requested assistance needs.

Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce-  The Chattooga County Chamber of Commerce office is closed, but Executive Director Cindy Rivers is available by phone (706.857.4033) or email (chamber@chattoogacounty.org). All Chamber events have been suspended until further notice. Updates to our website and Facebook page are kept current, and a new Facebook group has been created: Together4Chattooga in order to offer an environment for businesses to post their updates and connect with consumers.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) now offers disaster assistance in the form of low-interest loans to businesses, renters, and homeowners located in Chattooga County affected by coronavirus. Access more details on how to apply at  https://www.sba.gov/disaster-assistance/coronavirus-covid-19 or call our office for help.

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is temporarily suspending in-person requirements for services. Claims may be filed through their website: dol.georgia.gov or call our office for help. Facebook is launching a $100 million grant program for small businesses. They’ve also created a Business Hub with tips on how businesses can survive the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Chattooga County Agricultural Center- The Ag Center will be closed until further notice.

Chattooga County Civic Center- The Civic Center will be closed until further notice.

 

Chattooga County EOA Office-  Closed to the public until further notice. If you are in need of assistance  please call the Chattooga Office at 706-857-0729.    Please leave your name, number and need and they will get back to you.   We ask for patience and understanding at this time.

Chattooga County Library- (Trion and Summerville Locations) – Based on recommendations from the CDC, Governor Kemp, and Commissioner Winters the Chattooga County Library System will be closed to the public through at least April.  At that point, a decision will be made whether to reopen.  While libraries normally invite people to come to libraries during emergencies, that is not the best option at this time because virus containment works best when all gathering spaces are closed.

People can park in our parking lot and take advantage of our free Wi-Fi at both library locations in Summerville and Trion.  The password for Summerville is chattooga1234 and the Trion Public Library password is trion1234 . Our patrons are invited to take advantage of our FREE online resources including e-books, e-audiobooks,  and e-magazines for both adults and children through GADD, e-read kids, and TumbleBooks.   You can also search a recipe database.  Available through the library system’s website:  chattoogacountylibrary.org  .  You can use a smartphone as well as other Internet capable devices to do this.

If you have a library item due, your due date will automatically be extended until May 1st.  All overdues fees will be waived during this time.  Limited email support will be provided during this time.  Email either sstephens@chattoogacountylibrary.org or sbaker@chattoogacountylibrary.org .  Watch our Facebook at Chattooga County Library for other activities such as a preschool storytime on Thursdays at 10:30.

Chattooga County Transit– We will be transporting Dialysis patients to and from the dialysis center until further notice.

For more information, please contact the Chattooga County Commissioner’s Office at 706-857-0700 or e-mail at chattcom@windstream.net or jwincom@windstream.net