Web Alert

May 20

Elections

Advance Voting for the June 9 Presidential Preference Primary, General Primary, and Nonpartisan Election will take place from May 18 to June 5 at the Gwinnett Voter Registrations and Elections Beauty P. Baldwin Building and the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds. Additional satellite locations will be available beginning May 30. For details, visit the Advance Voting webpage.

To view wait times for in-person voting at the open locations, please click here.

Gwinnett County Government is monitoring developments in the spread of the coronavirus outbreak and how it may affect our residents, employees, and our delivery of important County services.

Public Health State of Emergency in place through June 12

On Tuesday, May 12, Governor Kemp issued additional guidance on reviving a healthy Georgia, extending many precautions and guidelines through the end of the month. Though the Shelter-in-Place Order expired for most Georgians May 1, Governor Kemp continues to urge Georgians to stay home whenever possible and practice social distancing.

Businesses must continue to operate with social distancing and sanitation rules to keep customers and staff safe through May 31, 2020. These rules are available in executive orders 04.20.20.01, 04.23.20.02, 04.27.20.01, and 05.12.20.01. The state has provided guidance to help businesses understand restrictions and requirements for operating during this time.

Bars, nightclubs, live performance venues, and operators of amusement park rides must remain closed through May 31.

On April 30, Governor Kemp issued an executive order extending the Public Health State of Emergency through June 12, 2020. As part of this executive order, elderly and medically fragile residents must continue to shelter in place through June 12. Long-term care facilities are also ordered to use enhanced infection control protocols during this time.

We would like to remind all residents to follow the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: clean your hands often, avoid close contact with others, stay at home as much as possible, cover coughs and sneezes, wear a cloth face covering when possible, and stay home if you are sick. For more information about how to protect yourself from COVID-19 and what to do if you are sick, please visit Coronavirus.gov.

Elections: Presidential Preference Primary and state and local primaries postponed until June 9

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has moved the Presidential Preference Primary and the state and local primary to June 9, 2020. The Presidential Preference Primary was originally scheduled for March 24 before being postponed to May 19 to correspond with the scheduled state and local primary. Both elections will now take place June 9. 

Every vote already cast in the Presidential Preference Primary, whether by mail or in person, will be counted in June for the Presidential Preference Primary along with votes cast in the state and local primary. Absentee ballot applications for the upcoming primary election will continue to be accepted and processed even if the application said May 19. Once County election officials verify the signature on the application, the voter will be sent an absentee ballot for the primary election now to be held on June 9. Advance in person voting for the June 9 election will begin May 18. Learn more about ways you can cast your ballot advance in person or advance by mail.

Read the Secretary of State’s announcement for more information about the decision to postpone the elections. We will continue to share additional updates as details become available.

Emergency assistance available to seniors

Emergency assistance for seniors is available for those who are over 60. If you or someone you know is over 60 and facing hunger, health, or mobility issues, please call 678.377.4150 to speak with Senior Services staff. 

Gwinnett Tax Commissioner offices reopen May 18

All Gwinnett Tax Commissioner will reopen Monday, May 18 with measures in place to promote social distancing and protect staff and customers. Branches will hold normal business hours, but Saturday service is suspended indefinitely. Learn more about the new procedure. Customers are still encouraged to skip the trip and use e-services, drop-off and kiosks for most transactions. Customer service is available 8:00am to 5:00pm weekdays via phone, email and chat. Visit the Gwinnett Tax Commissioner’s website for contact details, links to e-services, and more information.

Grant funding opportunities available to nonprofits

Gwinnett County values the services provided throughout our community by our nonprofit and faith-based partners. We recognize that each agency faces unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and we offer current resources to assist you in maintaining services and responding to immediate needs. 

We are now accepting applications for round one of the federal CARES Act grant funding. All applications must be submitted electronically to the Community Development Program by June 4 for consideration. Click here for more details about the grant funding and how to apply.

GJAC public hours modified

To promote the safety of employees and visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic, the hours that the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center is open to the public will be limited effective today.  The main entrance of GJAC will be open to the public from 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. The building is normally open to the public 8:00am to 10:00pm on weekdays.

People who must visit GJAC in person are urged to follow CDC guidelines of keeping six feet apart, washing hands frequently, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

Tax Assessor’s Office closed, online and phone service available

The Gwinnett Tax Assessor's Office is currently closed to the public, but all services are available online, by phone, or by email. Customers may use e-services to do property research, get copies of annual notices of assessment, and file appeals. Documents may also be filed by mail. Personal Property returns, Freeport Applications, and other applications should be delivered by mail with a stamped mail date to be recorded as the filing date. Customer service is available 8:00am to 5:00pm weekdays by phone and email. Visit the Gwinnett Assessor's website for contact details, education, and e-services.

Most Residential and Commercial Annual Notices of Assessment typically sent in early April were instead sent May 1. An Annual Notice of Assessment is not a tax bill. The notice informs you of the value assessed on your residential or commercial real estate as of January 1, 2020. Personal Property Annual Notices will be mailed May 18 and include an assessments of the value of tangible business inventory, furniture, and fixtures, as well as for, watercraft, and aircraft. You may appeal your value within 45 days of the date on your notice.To appeal your 2020 value, visit Gwinnett-Assessor.com. 

Governor Brian Kemp has extended the deadlines for Conservation Use Value Assessments and Forest Land Use Protection Act applications, including applications for continuations of covenants until June 1, 2020.

Planning and Development operates with limited staff onsite

The Gwinnett County Department of Planning and Development at One Justice Square is operating with limited staff onsite but also has employees working remotely to respond to inquiries online. Residents and business owners are encouraged to email Planning & Development staff or take advantage of our many online services.

People who must visit Planning and Development offices in person are urged to follow CDC guidelines of keeping six feet apart, washing hands frequently, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

Water Resources encourages customers to pay bill online, by phone

Because of reduced customer service staff and longer wait times, Gwinnett County water customers are encouraged to make payments online at Gwinnetth2o.com/paymybill or through the automated phone service, 678.376.6800 (option 1). The Department of Water Resources encourages any customer who is having a difficult time making water bill payments during this National Crisis to contact DWR’s Customer Care Team at 678.376.6800.

DWR emphasizes that drinking water is still safe to consume. According to the CDC, the COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking water, and conventional water treatment methods that use filtration and disinfection, like those in our drinking water systems, should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19. For more information about DWR’s response to COVID-19.

Gwinnett Animal Shelter offers online adoption and foster applications

The Gwinnett Animal Shelter is now offering online adoption and foster applications at GwinnettAnimalWelfare.com. Those who have completed the online application can set up a one-hour meet-and-greet appointment with up to three available pets. Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from noon to 5:00pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Visitors are encouraged to follow CDC prevention recommendations, including face coverings; gloves will be provided upon arrival.

To make an appointment to be reunited with a lost pet or to report a stray or injured pet, please call 770.339.3200. Residents are encouraged to hold onto stray animals if possible to permit the owner time to locate their lost pet. Owner surrenders are by appointment only.

Transit

Local service – Starting Monday, April 13, Gwinnett County Transit will restrict boarding on local buses to 11 passengers in order to promote social distancing while still providing essential trips for people who need transit. Once a local bus reaches its 11-passenger capacity, it will display “Bus Full. Please wait for the next bus” until there is room on the bus. Customers should consider only taking essential trips so that others may still be able to get to their essential destinations as well.

Gwinnett County Transit customers using local buses will enter and exit buses using the REAR doors only, except for customers who require the accessibility ramp or kneeling function. Because farebox equipment is located at the front door, Gwinnett County Transit is temporarily suspending fare collection on local buses.

Commuter service – Beginning Monday, April 13, Gwinnett County Transit will no longer run commuter express bus routes to downtown Atlanta except for Route 110 until further notice. Fare box collection will also be temporarily suspended on Route 110. For GCT alternative routes, click here. For Xpress routes to Atlanta, visit xpressga.com.

To limit the spread of COVID-19, when available, hand sanitizer will be placed on buses for passenger use. We are also deep cleaning all buses and vans daily, an increase from once a month. The cleaning products used for deep cleaning kill germs at a rate of 99.9 percent.

Economic Development

Staff from the  Gwinnett County Office of Economic Development will be available by phone, video conferencing, and email. Business outreach assistance is still available, but all in-person meetings and Coffee and Conversation networking events have been postponed.

Georgia has received a statewide declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration that will provide SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans to impacted small businesses. The loans are available for small businesses and nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit the  Economic Development COVID-19 Business Resource and Information page.

County Business Continuity

An internal task force has been working to evaluate existing policies and prepare additional plans for business continuity to allow us to continue to provide essential services to the community.

Courts and Trials

On Monday, May 11, Chief Justice Harold D. Melton of the Supreme Court of Georgia extended the statewide judicial emergency declaration through Friday, June 12.

Courts will remain open to address essential functions, and in particular will give priority to matters necessary to protect the health, safety, and liberty of individuals. To the extent court proceedings are held, they will be done in a manner to limit the risk of exposure, such as by videoconferencing, where possible.

Essential functions include but are not limited to arrest and search warrants, family violence and stalking temporary protective order applications, and mental health commitment hearings.

In addition, this order grants relief from any deadlines imposed by otherwise applicable statutes or court orders, such as statutes of limitations or time within to issue a warrant.

As a result of this extension, the March 30 order signed by Chief Judge George Hutchinson III of the Gwinnett County Superior Court is also extended through June 12.

Previous orders: April 6 Order Extending Statewide Judicial Emergency March 30 Order Extending Judicial EmergencyMarch 14 Order Declaring Statewide Judicial EmergencyMarch 13 Order Declaring Judicial Emergency

Probate Court

The Gwinnett County Probate Court is open to address emergency petitions, such as medical consent guardianships, orders to apprehend, and involuntary commitments in person at this time. Temporary hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:00pm.

Marriage license applications (with a ceremony scheduled before June 15, 2020) and weapons carry license applications will be accepted by appointment only. Please visit GwinnettCourts.com/probate to download the application and schedule your appointment. Other Probate Court services should be handled by mail or online. For more information, visit GwinnettCourts.com/probate or email probatecourt@gwinnettcounty.com.

Recorder's Court

Gwinnett County Recorder's Court has postponed court hearings through June 14. Those scheduled to appear before that date will be sent a notice with a rescheduled hearing date. To find out more, please visit  GwinnettRC.com or contact the Recorder's Court at  RecordersCourtInfo@gwinnettcounty.com or 877.794.0988. 

Parks and Recreation Indoor and Outdoor Facilities

Dog parks, tennis courts, pickleball courts, and skate parks at Gwinnett County Parks and Recreation facilities have reopened with new guidelines in place to protect patrons.

Certain areas of the parks, including trails, disc golf, fishing areas, horseshoe courts, and bocce ball courts, have remained open from sunrise to sunset to provide residents with spaces to safely exercise during the pandemic.

All County parks indoor facilities, aquatic centers, and pools remain closed, and programs hosted at these facilities have been canceled until further notice. If you have an upcoming reservation at a pavilion or other facility, staff will contact you for rescheduling or refunding options.

Senior Services and Programming

All Gwinnett County senior center operations and senior recreation programming has been suspended.

Seniors who receive their meals through our senior congregate programming have been added to the County's home-delivered meals program to ensure that their essential needs are being met at home. Meals will continue to be delivered directly to the homes of seniors who already participate in our home delivered meal program, and in-home services will continue for those clients who receive homemaking and respite services.

All operations and programs at Prime Timers Pointe at George Pierce Park and Bethesda Park Senior Center have also been suspended.

Events and Activities

Events and activities are currently suspended.

If a Gwinnett County Community Services event you have registered for is canceled, you will receive an email or phone call notifying you of the cancellation. Any registration fee will be refunded.

County Facilities

Safety measures encouraging social distancing are in place in County facilities, and temperature screenings are being conducted upon entry to the Gwinnett Justice and Administration Center and the Courts Annex. If you must visit a County facility, please check that the facility is open during normal hours. Visitors are urged to practice social distancing and personal protective measures, like avoiding contact with people who are sick, practicing coughing and sneezing etiquette, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, and washing your hands thoroughly and regularly.

Gwinnett County also offers a variety of online services that offer residents an alternative to coming into a County facility.

Police and Fire and Emergency Services

Police and Fire and Emergency Services have staffing plans to ensure adequate response to any emergency call. They also have established CDC-based protocols for handling calls with people with COVID-19 to protect everyone involved.

Schools

On April 1, Governor Kemp signed an executive order closing elementary and secondary schools through the end of the 2019 – 2020 school year. Online learning is permitted. Visit the  Gwinnett County Public Schools webpage or  Buford City Schools webpage for updates and information about digital learning, nutrition programs, and more.

Keep checking this article for updates as we address this developing situation.