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Bartow County Responds to COVID-19
GOVERNOR KEMP ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER EXTENDING SCHOOL CLOSING THROUGH APRIL 24, 2020
EMERGENCY DECLARATION FROM THE COUNTY COMMISSIONER
GOVERNOR KEMP'S EXECUTIVE ORDERS ISSUED 3/23/2020
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT of PUBLIC HEALTH
CDC/CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL and PREVENTION
COVID-19 PANDEMIC WHOLE-of-GOVERNMENT RESPONSE 3/25/2020
GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH COVID-19 ISOLATION PROTOCOL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) 3/27/2020
In a continued effort to protect our citizens and help contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Bartow County Government will temporarily suspend all non-essential functions and recreational activities until further notice. Functions to be suspended include, but are not limited to:
ELECTIONS: The Elections Office will be closed to the public until further notice. The Office will continue to be staffed and available to provide assistance via phone and email. A variety of services and questions can be answered through the Elections Office website. The Elections Superintendent will re-evaluate existing conditions on April 6th.
RECREATION: All activities at County operated parks and gymnasiums are suspended until further notice. All indoor facilities, outdoor basketball courts, outdoor pavillions, playgrounds and all rental facilities are closed to the public until further notice. Group activities, games and team sports at all parks are prohibited. Certain parking areas are closed to the public in an effort to discourage social congregating. The public is strongly encouraged to practice the recommended social distancing rule of six feet and in groups of 10 or less while visiting the parks and take additional precautionary measures when visiting these areas to keep themselves, their families and friends safe. Gatewood Park, Clark Creek North and Clark Creek South campsites and boat ramps will remain open. The Office will be closed to the public until April 2nd but will be fully staffed and conducting business via phone calls and/or emails. The Director will re-evaluate existing conditions on April 2nd to determine if additional measures are needed.
RECYCLING: The recyling center located at the County Landfill will cease its operation effective immediately and until further notice. Collection Centers will accept cardboard recyclable material only.
TAX COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE: The Tax/Tag Office is closed to walk-in traffic until further notice. Property taxes and tag renewals can be submitted online or by mail. Citizens are encouraged to visit the Tax Commissioner's page at https://www.bartowga.org/departments/tax_commissioner/tag_info.php or the Georgia Drives website at https://dor.georgia.gov/motor-vehicles/drives-e-services to take advantage of a number of online services available. A drop box will be located at the entrance to the couthouse for property tax and mobile home payments and regular tag renewals. Please contact the Tax Commissioner's office at 770-387-5111 (property tax) or 770-387-5112 (vehicle tags) for further information and assistance.
SENIOR CENTERS: All Senior Center activities are suspended and the centers will be closed to the public until April 13th, with the exception of the Meal Program, which will be home delivery service only. Please contact the Zena Drive Senior Center for futher information.
TRANSIT SERVICES: Bartow Transit will continue operations as usual for ESSENTIAL trips only. ESSENTIAL trips include doctors' visits, dialysis, and employment. Grocery store trips are limited to one store stop only. All non-essential trips such as gyms, fitness centers, clothing stores, hair salons, and nail salons are suspended until further notice. Transit personnel will take the necessary steps to clean and sanitize transit buses regularly to protect passengers and driver.
OLIN TATUM BUILDING: The Olin Tatum Building (aka County Extension Office/Ag Building) will be closed to public gatherings until further notice. This includes the Veterans Administration Office, the extension office, agricultural services, 4-H, etc. Masters Gardeners and other meetings and public gatherings regularly conducted in the building are suspended until further notice. However, the offices will continue be adequately staffed and office personnel will provide services via phone, email, online as much as possible. Please contact the appropriate offices for further information and assistance.
ROSE LAWN MUSEUM: Museum tours will be suspended until further notice. The facility and grounds will be open for previously scheduled events/rentals.
ANIMAL CONTROL: The lobby of the Bartow County Animal Control facility is closed to the public until further notice. The office is staffed and available to assist citizens via telephone at 770-387-5153. Those wishing to owner surrender an animal should contact the Rescue Coordinator at the Etowah Valley Humane Society at 678-310-6138.
WATER DEPARTMENT: The lobby of the Bartow County Water Department will be closed to the public until further notice. Customers can pay their water bill at the drive-thru window, online or by mail. The office will continue to be staffed and can provide services via phone, email, or online. We understand that finances may be affected during this time and we are here to help our customers mitigate those circumstances. If you need to speak to a customer service representative regarding payment, please contact them at 770-387-5170, Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
BARTOW COUNTY COURTHOUSE: The courthouse will remain open to the public with limited access. All County offices will be adequately staffed and available to provide public services via phone, email or online. However, in-person interactions will be significantly reduced until further notice and hours and functions may change as the situation continues to change.
COURT MATTERS: Effective immediately and continuing until April 13, 2020, all Criminal Non Jury matters will be limited to essential hearings only. These will include: (1) in custody uncontested probation revocations; (2) guilty pleas involving in custody inmates; and (3) motions for bond or bond reductions.
There will be no jury trials during this time period and no arraignment hearings will be held. Time limitations will be tolled in accordance with Chief Justice Harold D. Melton's Order.
All Civil Non Jury hearings normally conducted on Wednesdays will be limited to thirty (30) day hearings on temporary protective orders and emergency exparte hearings involving domestic matters. No other contested civil hearings will be heard during this time.
Any and all adoption matters are continued until after April 13th or until further order of the Court.
Probate Court
All other County non-court related offices will be reducing in-person interactions as much as possible to reduce the risk of further spread of the virus.
Citizens are encouraged to contact County offices via telephone, email or online.
Citizens are further advised to be wary of email hackers that are attempting to take advantage of this crisis situation. Contact the cdc.gov website to stay informed with the most accurate and up-to-date information.
The County Commissioner will continue to closely monitor the situation and will take further action as deemed necessary and appropriate to protect the citizens of Bartow County.
Commissioner Taylor and his staff wish to extend a special thanks to those individuals in our health care services and emergency response teams for their dedication and selfless commitment to serve the people of this community.
We also wish to thank our citizens for your patience and cooperation as we continue to find additional avenues to reduce human exposure to the COVID-19 virus while continuing to provide public services during these uncertain times.
Governor Brian Kemp Briefing on COVID-19 (March 17, 2020)