Commissioners issue emergency declaration in Oconee Co

Oconee County Commissioners have declared a local state of emergency as cases of coronavirus continue to spread across Georgia.

From the Oconee Co government website…

The Oconee County Board of Commissioners has issued a Local Emergency Order under the Emergency Management Ordinance, in accordance with Governor’s Kemp’s executive order, which remains in effect through April 6. The Oconee County Emergency Order will take effect at 5 p.m., Thursday, March 26, and remain in effect until Monday, April 6, at noon. When Governor Kemp issued a state-wide state of emergency, Oconee County’s Emergency Management Ordinance was activated, placing Oconee County in a local state of emergency.

During this state of emergency under this order:

• Restaurants and other eating establishments within Oconee County will cease offering dine-in and/or outdoor/patio service, and may continue to prepare and offer food to customers through delivery, takeout, and/or drive-thru service only. This is in accordance with guidance provided by the Department of Public Health: https://www.oconeecounty.com/DocumentCenter/View/9985/COVID-19-Guidance-for-Restaurants_3232020-.
• All persons ordered by the Department of Public Health to isolate, quarantine, or shelter in place within their homes or place of residence shall comply with such executive order or administrative order. In accordance with the Governor's executive order, the following populations are specifically included: residents of nursing homes or long-term care facilities, those with chronic lung disease, individuals undergoing cancer treatment, those with confirmed or suspected cases of Coronavirus, or those who have had contact with an individual diagnosed with Coronavirus.
• No business, establishment, corporation, non-profit, or organization shall allow more than ten people to be gathered at a single location, unless individuals can maintain six feet of separation at all times. This applies to all businesses and organizations, including gyms.
• All residents of Oconee County are strongly urged to remain at home unless they are engaged in necessary and vital business. We encourage all citizens to follow CDC and national taskforce recommendations on limiting groups to no more than ten people, maintaining at least six feet of separation and utilizing drive-through, pick-up, or delivery options for food.

We urge all residents to remain in their home except to conduct vital business. With the closure of restaurant dining areas, park recreational fields and additional businesses such as movie theaters closing, Oconee County no longer has areas of significant public gathering. We support Governor Kemp’s order and we will work to make the order successful. The restrictions on gatherings of groups larger than ten and the requirement of social distancing with a six-foot minimum will, along with the order for medically fragile individuals to shelter in place, help prevent the transmission of this virus, especially to those who are most vulnerable. We have and will continue to collaborate with other governments in the region, including Barrow, Jackson, Walton, and Gwinnett, to develop a regional strategy to combat COVID-19 and support Governor Kemp’s Executive Order.

Please continue to visit our website www.oconeecounty.com and our social media channels for updates on this evolving situation. Please also sign up for CodeRED emergency updates at: https://tinyurl.com/oconeega.

Complaints about restaurant operation can be directed to Environmental Health at 706-769-7060.

Parks:

All use of recreational fields and courts at Oconee Veterans Parks, Herman C. Michael Park, Bogart Sports Complex and Heritage Park, including soccer, softball, baseball, tennis courts, basketball courts, disc golf and playground is prohibited. Staff have posted closure signs on the facilities. Park walking trails will remain open provided social distancing requirements are maintained. Additionally, patrons in parks are required to adhere to national recommendations of limiting groups to a maximum of ten people and maintaining six feet of separation. All other pickup recreation games in park spaces are also prohibited. Failure to comply with these rules after staff enforcement may result in being banned from all Oconee County parks for a period of one year.

Restaurants and Businesses:

We want the community to continue to support local businesses, but in a responsible manner. The Tourism and Visitors Bureau has developed an evolving list of restaurants offering drive-thru/pick-up/delivery options to limit social interactions. Please see the link below:

Additionally, we will be waiving penalties on late Occupational Tax Certificates until May 1 and deferring payment of alcohol excise taxes until September 1.

Solid Waste Collection Site/ Recycling Centers:

All Oconee County solid waste collection sites/recycling centers have been operating on a limited schedule since Friday, March 20. The sites will be open for self-service on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. In order to limit contact between sanitation personnel and the public, attendant assistance and Pay-As-You-Throw bag sales will be unavailable at these locations. You can still purchase PAYT bags at retail locations (grocery stores and convenience stores).

Please do not leave trash or other items outside the gate when the sites are closed. Also, make sure to dispose of your items in the proper bins. Please do not mix trash with the recycling!

In order to maintain enough storage space for everyone, we ask that you limit your use to disposal of normal household items only.

The following direct links for common transactions may be helpful:

Pay water bill: https://www.oconeecounty.com/498/View-andor-Pay-your-Bill

Renew vehicle registration: https://eservices.drives.ga.gov/_/

Pay property taxes: https://oconeecountyga.governmentwindow.com/tax.html

Pay traffic ticket: https://www.ezcourtpay.com/Tix/Default.aspx

Sign up for CodeRED notifications: https://tinyurl.com/oconeega

In response to the emerging COVID-19 situation, the Water Resources Department is temporarily halting the disconnection of water service for non-payment.

As always, you may also email or call county staff with questions; departmental and staff contact information is available on our website.

For more information about Coronavirus, visit the Georgia Department of Public Health at https://dph.georgia.gov and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html.