UPDATED FLOYD COUNTY OPERATIONS DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
The Floyd County Board of Commissioners are 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. From March 14, 2020 until March 29, 2020, certain departments within Floyd County will be limiting operations. Specific information for the departments is listed below. Please contact the Floyd County Clerk’s office at 706-291-5110 for more information.
Floyd County Police—The Floyd County Police Department will continue to open during business hours as our community and governments work through a response to the worldwide Coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The office is open Monday through Friday from 8am-5pm.
Citizens are asked to please call (706) 235-7766 or email the department before visiting the office. Incident reports are available by emailing [email protected]. Vehicle crash reports are available for download and printing at www.buycrash.com.
E-911—Floyd County E-911 will be implementing the following protocols to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect our communication officers and other personnel.
- E-911 will accept alarm registrations, payments, inquiries, and open records via email or online payment ONLY until further notice. Please leave a message and someone will return your call as soon as possible.
- Administrative Contact (Records, Registrations, & Payments), contact Alisha Burnes at [email protected] or (706) 236-4543.
Public Animal Welfare Services (P.A.W.S.)—Effective Monday, March 16, 2020, P.A.W.S. will close the shelter and cancel all events through March 29, 2020. The shelter is scheduled to reopen on Monday, March 30, 2020 at 9:00am; however, staff will make a decision prior to that date depending on the severity of the spread in the community. All animal at P.A.W.S. are receiving continued care and love. Essential staff are present to ensure all animals receive they care they need.
Animal control officers will only respond to emergencies involving public safety and animal welfare at this time. All other calls will be addressed when condition improve. Please call 706-236-4537 between the hours of 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday. As always, please direct any afterhours calls to 911.
Sheriff’s Office/Jail—The Floyd County Sheriff’s Office will only process fingerprints for criminal justice and fire services.
For more information, please contact the Floyd County Clerk’s office at 706-291-5110.
Updated City of Rome Operations – Public Access Closed to Non-Emergency City of Rome Facilities
March 15, 2020, Rome, GA – The City of Rome is increasing measures for the health and safety of our staff and the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City of Rome is closing public access to all non-emergency facilities effective March 16, 2020. The closures will remain in effect through March 29, 2020 at which time the situation will be re-evaluated.
All essential city operations and staff including Police, Fire, Water/Sewer, Sanitation, and key infrastructure will continue functioning. Emergency services will continue.
City of Rome Transit will operate all regular services at this time. However, officials ask riders to please practice CDC-recommended hygiene and germ-spread prevention techniques and social distancing.
Although public access is restricted, all city departments can be reached via phone. Water Billing can accept payments by phone, mail or online: https://www.romefloyd.com/pay-water-bill. Building Inspection will be able to take payments and issue permits by phone.
For non-emergency questions, the public can reach the appropriate department at the phone numbers listed below:
City Manager’s Office: 706-236-4400
City Clerk’s Office: 706-236-4460 (Business License and facility rental)
Municipal Court: 706-236-5150 or 706-236-4462
Finance Department: 706-236-4420
Technology Services: 706-236-4445 or 706-236-4446
Purchasing: 706-236-4410
Water Billing: 706-236-4440 or 706-236-4441
HR/Risk Management: 706-236-4450 or 706-236-4452
Building Inspection: 706-236-4480 or 706-236-4481
Fire Department: 706-236-4500
Police Department:
Police Records: 706-238-5155 or 706-238-5154
Public Works: 706-236-4585 or 706-236-4466
Street Department: 706-378-3859
Engineering: 706-378-3846
Cemetery: 706-236-4534
Landfill: 706-291-4512
Solid Waste: 706-236-4580
Transit: 706-236-4523 or 706-236-5036 or 706-236-5038
Water/Sewer Operations: 706-236-4560, Emergency After-Hours 706-236-4527
Filter Plant: 706-236-4527
Water Reclamation Facility: 706-236-4526
Downtown Development/Parking:
Planning/Zoning: 706-236-5022
The public can also utilize the myRome app to connect directly with city staff. The app is available on itunes and google play.
The city will continue posting updates on the City Facebook page www.facebook.com/CityofRomeGA and the City website, https://www.romefloyd.com/coronavirus-updates.
Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home
Chieftains Museum/Major Ridge Home will be closed to the public beginning today at noon through next Saturday, March 21st. We will reassess the current health situation before reopening, but plan to resume regular hours of operation on Wednesday, March 25th.
We appreciate your willingness to participate in our upcoming events and want to assure you that we are monitoring the situation regarding coronavirus. We will take all necessary precaution when planning our events, and should we feel the need to make changes, we will notify you as soon as possible.
For more information about the museum, please visit our website at www.chieftainsmuseum.org.
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Forum River Center
Out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our clients and staff, the following events at Forum River Center have decided to cancel or postpone. If you have any additional questions please contact the organizers of the event or message us and we can get you in touch with the correct parties.
YMCA Healthy Kids Day
Varsity Spirit Cheer and Dance Competition
FAD Murder Mystery Dinner
Rome Prayer Breakfast
Forum River Center Home and Garden Show
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Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation
Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation (RFPR) has postponed the annual Leprechaun-a-thon 5K and Health Walk to October 10, 2020, and gymnastics and other indoor activities, including senior citizen events, are cancelled until further notice. All RFPR outdoor sporting events will be suspended for a fourteen-day period. The remaining schedule will be reevaluated at that time.
All RFPR buildings and indoor facilities will be closed to the public starting Friday, March 13 through Friday, March 27. This will be reevaluated before reopening. Outdoor parks will remain open. However, visitors are encouraged to be careful, wash their hands and avoid large gatherings. For questions, call 706.291.0766.
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Floyd County Schools
ATTN FLOYD COUNTY FAMILIES: In light of Gov. Kemp’s advice, and with the guidance from public health organizations, Floyd County Schools will remain closed for all staff and students through Wednesday, March 25th with current plans of classes resuming Thursday, March 26th. As previously stated, central office employees and custodial staff will need to report to work on Friday, March 13th. More information to come tomorrow. We will continue to collaborate, share information, and monitor the situation with local and state health officials to help protect our school communities.
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Rome City Schools
Following the recommendation of Governor Kemp, Rome City Schools will be closed starting Friday, 03.13.20.
The Teacher-In-Service date scheduled for Friday, 03.27.20 is cancelled.
Classes are scheduled to resume Monday, 04.06.20.
During this time, the district will be closed. Any employee expected to report to work will be notified.
Flexible Learning will take place Friday, 03.13.20 through Thursday, 03.26.20.
Grades Kindergarten through 2nd have brought home assignment packets.
Grades 3 through 12 have received digital classroom content from their teachers using a variety of digital platforms and tools.
For those who wish to receive a school meal, one may be picked up at any of our Rome City School campuses on the following dates from 10am-12pm.
Monday, 03.16.20
Wednesday, 03.18.20
Friday, 03.20.20
Monday, 03.23.20
Wednesday, 03.25.20
Thursday, 03.26.20
During this time, all extracurricular will be cancelled.
It is important to reiterate, currently, that Rome City Schools is unaware of any confirmed or suspected cases of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) within our school system.
We will continue to evaluate and monitor this evolving situation.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.
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Georgia Highlands College
Starting Monday (March 16), all University System of Georgia institutions, including Georgia Highlands College, will temporarily suspend classes for students for two weeks as the institutions continue to work on their business continuity plans. Please check highlands.edu for updates and additional details as they become available.
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Rome Area History Center Closed This Weekend; Chariot Services Cancelled
Rome, GA, March 12, 2020 – The Rome Area History Center has cancelled the book signing and discussion with author Zack Waters scheduled for Saturday, March 14. Out of an abundance of caution, the museum will also be closed to the public on Friday, March 13 and Saturday, March 14. Additionally, the museum will be closed for scheduled renovations on Tuesday, March 17 and will reopen on Wednesday, March 18, 2020.
The Georgia’s Rome Office of Tourism has cancelled Roman Chariot free downtown shuttle services for the upcoming weekend, March 12-14, 2020.
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2020 ITF Georgia Open Wheelchair Tennis Tournament
Rome, GA, March 12, 2020 – The Rome Sports Tournament Committee in conjunction with ITF and the USTA has made the decision to cancel the 2020 ITF Georgia Open Wheelchair Tournament. The tournament was scheduled to continue running today through Sunday. The decision was made for the safety of all participants. All tournament staff are currently assisting players to ensure safe and expedited travel for all involved.
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Floyd Medical Center – New Visitor Restrictions Take Effect Friday, March 13
In an ongoing effort to prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, Floyd is expanding visitor restrictions that will include a brief health screening at entrances to numerous facilities effective Friday, March 13. Floyd is taking this additional measure to protect the health of our patients, their families and our medical staff.
Effective immediately, patients will be permitted only one visitor, unless deemed absolutely necessary by the patient’s health care team. The following restrictions will apply:
Patients and visitors may ONLY enter at main or emergency entrances. Floyd Medical Center’s North Entrance on Turner McCall Boulevard and the parking deck are closed to the public.
- All visitors and patients will be screened before entering the hospital.
- Only one visitor per patient will be permitted.
- No visitors younger than 13 will be permitted.
Nursing staff and the attending physician will work with families who have special circumstances, such as a critically ill or injured family member, on a case-by-case basis.
The following locations will be impacted:
- Floyd Medical Center
- 330 Physician Center
- Floyd Behavioral Health
- Polk Medical Center
- Cherokee Medical Center
This is a rapidly evolving situation and Floyd will take additional steps to help control the spread of COVID-19 as necessary. Floyd recognizes that interacting with friends and family can be helpful to the healing process and strongly encourage everyone to utilize other forms of support for their loved ones, such as phone calls and video chats on cell phones or other mobile devices.
Patients visiting Floyd Urgent Care or Floyd Primary Care should call before coming if they have cough, fever or difficulty breathing AND have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19.
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2020 Big Fibbers Festival Cancelled
News Release – March 12, 2020
The 2020 Big Fibbers Storytelling Festival scheduled for March 27-28 has been cancelled, says Terrell Shaw, president of the festival sponsor, the Ridge & Valley Storytelling Guild.
“In the interest of community health and with much regret we are cancelling this year’s events,” Shaw said. “We had two outstanding nationally known tellers, Donna Washington and Antonio Rocha, scheduled to spend a week in Rome performing in schools and then for the public on Friday and Saturday. However, concern about the spread of Covid-19 has forced us to reconsider.”
All events associated with the 2020 festival, including the Big Fibbers competition and YoungTales youth competition are canceled. “Those who have purchased tickets online will receive a refund,” Shaw said, “and Big Fibbers will return in 2021 with both Donna Washington and Antonio Rocha as our headliners.”
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Harbin Clinic Leprechaun-a-Thon
At Harbin Clinic, the safety of our patients, employees and community is our top priority. Out of an abundance of caution, the Harbin Clinic Leprechaun-a-Thon scheduled for this weekend has been cancelled due to concerns related to coronavirus.
Despite the cancellation, race registrants are still invited to pick up their 2020 Leprechaun-a-Thon race bag, which includes a t-shirt and a downtown discount wrist band for use on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. Packet pickup will occur on Thursday and Friday from 1:00pm-6:00pm at RFPRA at 1 Shorter Avenue.
Questions and concerns regarding your registration? Contact Recreation Services Manager Jim Alred at [email protected].
More info and details can be found at https://harbinclinic.com/Leprechaun2020update.
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Rome Braves Redneck Rummage Sale
The health and safety of our community is a priority and as such we have elected to cancel Saturday’s Redneck Rummage Sale at State Mutual Stadium. All paid vendor spaces will be transferred/credited to the Fall (Sat., Sept. 26, 2020) or Spring (TBA 2021) Rummage Sale. Thank you for understanding and for continuously supporting this event which benefits the Atlanta Braves Foundation and Braves Miracle Field of Rome.
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Berry College Baseball
Changes to this weekend’s Berry College Baseball series at Millsaps.
-Games will be played Friday @ 1/4 ET and Sat. @ 12 ET
-No fan attendance permitted
-Only players and required team personnel will be allowed
-Games will be streamed for free
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