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KINGSLAND IMPLEMENTS CHANGES IN REGULAR OPERATIONS IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SPREADING CORONAVIRUS
KINGSLAND, GA (April 22, 2020) - On March 16, 2020, Kingsland Mayor Day issued a Precautionary Declaration of Public Health Emergency. With this declaration, the City of Kingsland is changing its regular operations in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
City of Kingsland Holds Virtual Public Meetings in Midst of COVID-19 Crisis: Governor Kemp signed an Executive Order requiring all Georgia residents and visitors to limit social interaction. In compliance with this order, the Kingsland Council has closed the council chambers to the public. Public meetings will proceed as scheduled via audio conference unless otherwise noted in advance. A virtual chat feature will allow public comment. For those who wish to participate, remote access to public meetings will be accessible via WebEx. Meeting links, agenda, and information packets will be posted prior to each meeting on City of Kingsland website at www.kingslandgeorgia.com. Those who wish to address City Council or provide input during any public meeting will be able to do so via chat utilizing the WebEx interface. Please log-on at least five minutes in advance of the scheduled meeting times so that your comments can be queued. The calendar for all public meetings, meeting agendas and minutes can be found online here. Contact the City of Kingsland Information Technology Department at lpowell@kingslandgerogia.com if you have any questions.
→ Instructions for remote access to Kingsland City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, April 27, 2020 at 6:00PM ←
City Facility Closure and Non-Essential Staff: In the interest of public health and safety, the City of Kingsland will be limiting public access to all City buildings and facilities. Kingsland City Hall, Municipal Services Building (closing effective 03/24/2020), Planning Department, Municipal Court, and the Welcome Center are temporarily closed to the public. Essential city staff will work remotely to ensure continuity of essential operations. All travel and non-essential meetings are suspended in an effort to reduce the risk of spreading coronavirus.
Fire Department: The Kingsland Fire Department offices will be closed to the public. However, all department services will continue as usual. As a safety measure, all public programs will be suspended until further notice. To request a public safety report, contact the Kingsland Fire Department at 912-729-8270. In case of an emergency, call 911. Additional information about the Fire Department is available at www.kingslandgeorgia.com
Municipal Court: To protect citizens and staff, the Kingsland Municipal Court has cancelled all April and May 2020 court dates. Reset dates are:
- April 1 arraignment court docket has been rescheduled to Monday, June 15 at 10:00 AM.
- April 13 trial docket has been rescheduled to Monday, July 13 at 9:00 AM.
- April 15 arraignment court docket has been rescheduled to Monday, June 22 at 10:00 AM.
- May 6 arraignment court docket has been rescheduled to Wednesday, July 22 at 10:00 AM.
- May 13 arraignment court docket has been rescheduled to Wednesday, July 29 10:00 AM.
Any additional changes to court dates will be announced as soon as possible. For questions, contact the court at 912-729-9938. The Municipal Court offices are closed until further notice. Additional information about the Municipal Court is available at www.kingslandgeorgia.com
Planning Department: The Planning Department offices are closed to public access until further notice. All permits, plan reviews, zoning applications, and business licenses will be processed by email and payments can be made by mail, drop boxes located at the Municipal Services Building or by calling 912-729-8226 to pay by phone. The department will be conducting building inspections as needed and any building permits, business licenses or Certificate of Occupancy certificates will be mailed or emailed to the applicants. If you need assistance, please email skimball@kingslandgeorgia.com or contact Planning Director Scott Kimball at 912-729-8222 or Building Official James George at 912-729-8298. Additional information about the Planning Department is available at www.kingslandgeorgia.com
Police Department: In order to maintain an operational and healthy police force, the department will be altering some of the day-to-day activities. All employees will be at work and officers will be carrying out normal patrols. The Kingsland Police Department offices will be closed to the public; however, the department can be reached by phone at 912-729-8254. The following services are suspended: Fingerprinting services, VIN inspections, unlocking of unoccupied vehicles, and “Are You Okay?” checks. To obtain a report for an automobile crash, go online to www.buycrash.com. To file a report, call 911. During this time, officers have been instructed to limit casual interactions with the public and avoid certain courtesies such as shaking of hands. Additionally, certain non-emergency calls will be done by phone when no crime is in process and where no evidence can be obtained, such as misdemeanor thefts, incidents of fraud, medical calls, custody disputes, and civil disputes. These modifications are temporary and are intended to only last the duration of the current crisis. Additional information about the Police Department is available at www.kingslandgeorgia.com
Public Safety and Essential Operations: Employees in essential operational positions (police, fire, EMS, water/sewer plant operations) will continue normal operations with the recommended safety precautions in place. To minimize the potential spread of COVID-19, access is limited to all public safety offices.
Water Utility Bills: Credit Card Fees Temporarily Waived For Online and Phone Payments Due to the heightened concerns we are currently facing with COVID-19, utility customers are encouraged to utilize the online payment center and phone payment options. The City of Kingsland will temporarily waive online and phone credit card payment fees through April 30, 2020. Kingsland utility payments can be made online at http://www.municipalonlinepayments.com/kingslandga or by calling 1-866-231-1537. All city payments may continue to be placed in drop boxes located at the Kingsland Welcome Center and the Kingsland Municipal Services, which has two payment drop boxes (One on the south side of the building on Williams Ave and another on the north side of the building). The Municipal Services Building will be closed to the public until further notice. Additional information about the Finance Department is available at www.kingslandgeorgia.com
Welcome Center: In support of social distancing efforts, the Kingsland Welcome Center will be closed to the public until further notice. If you need assistance, please email info@VisitKingsland.com or call 912-729-5999.
CITY OF KINGSLAND OPERATIONAL UPDATE (PDF)
PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM MAYOR DAY REGARDING THE COVID-19 CRISIS