Updated June 16, 2020

City of Powder Springs reopening dates, procedures

Several Powder Springs city facilities will begin opening to the public this week, but under strict guidelines to limit the possible spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Except as otherwise noted in this news release, all city facilities shall remain closed to customers until further notice.

City Hall will open Wednesday, June 17,  from 10 a.m. to  4 p.m., with entrance to the facility through the side door only. Exit will be through the front door. Following Wednesday’s opening, hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursdays. City Hall will be closed to the public on Fridays.

The Community Development and Police Department facilities are expected to open to the public July 6 from 10 a.m.  to 4 p.m. There will be a single point of entry and exit for the public at these facilities. Other departments will be open to the public by appointment.

The Senior Center facility will remain closed at this time.

At all open facilities, visitors will be directed to use hand sanitizer upon entry into the building and wear a mask or cloth face covering upon entry into the buildings — this includes children aged 2 and older. A mask will be provided if the person does not have one.

Visitors will be screened upon entry and will have their temperatures taken by a city employee using a city-issued, no-contact thermometer. If a visitor registers a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher, he or she will be advised of the temperature and advised that they cannot remain in the facility.

Social distancing will be enforced within opened facilities, with markings on the floors. No more than four (4) members of the public will be allowed in at one time in City Hall and each must stand where marked. No more than three (3) members of the public will be allowed in at one time in the Community Development, and no more than two (2) members of the public will be allowed in at one time in Police Department facilities; at each, visitors must stand where marked. If all of the designated marked areas are occupied or a non-employee cannot be escorted back for a delivery/pick-up or be taken back for their appointment, then the non-employee will be invited to wait outside in their car until the issue can be resolved, as appropriate.

A family unit of four (4) or less may count at one (1) member of the public if the family unit remains side-by-side as a group.

Visitors are encouraged to seek city services via phone or email, as meetings with the public within a city facility will be by appointment only until it is appropriate to allow entry with minimal restrictions. All in-person meetings will comply with the 6-foot social-distancing and face-covering rules. For customers wishing to schedule an appointment, the receptionist will take the name, telephone number and email of the person making the request and will email the employee with whom the individual wants to meet and will copy the individual requesting the meeting.

Visitors are asked to stay home if they have potential symptoms or have been exposed to anyone with symptoms, including having a fever over 100.4, cough or shortness of breath. Individuals with such symptoms will not be allowed entry to the facility. All individuals entering city facilities are required to wear a face covering.

PARKS FACILITIES AND EVENTS

The City’s parks will be open to the public Thursday to Sunday beginning Thursday, June 18, and closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Social distancing guidelines apply. The City will continually evaluate Centers for Disease Control guidelines and current conditions to determine if this should be modified. Trails are open and may be used per the present social distancing guidelines.

No city events will be scheduled through July 30. The City’s traditional Independence Day celebration will be replaced with a shared virtual event with the community on July 4. The City will maintain a rolling calendar of events in anticipation of lifted restrictions and research social distancing compliant options for programs and activities.

COURT

The City’s Court Administrator will work with the City Solicitor and Chief Judge on the scheduling of Municipal Court proceedings. Information about court proceedings will be posted and updated periodically on the website.

COUNCIL, COMMISSIONS AND BOARDS

All meetings in June will be held through the remote systems utilized by each respective body since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.City officials will evaluate the situation at the end of June to determine if this should be extended or modified. Plans call for regularly scheduled public meetings of the City Council and Planning & Zoning to return to be held in person starting in July in accordance with any social distancing recommendations of the CDC, although the use of remote systems is expected to continue as an option even if in-person meetings resume. The agenda meetings of the Mayor and City Council, Planning & Zoning, and regular meetings of other boards and commissions will continue as remote meetings indefinitely due to the inability to social distance in the available conference rooms.

The expected duration of the above policies is unknown but will continue until the risk of person-to-person infection is deemed minimal. Changes to these policies may occur often and without notice if available recommendations by federal, state and county health agencies indicate that new or alternate policies may be necessary or prudent.

The City is establishing plans to bring back in-person community activities when deemed safe and appropriate. With no certainty of what that timeline looks like, we are also making plans to move forward under social-distancing guidelines. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CORONAVIRUS

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• COVID-19 RELIEF RESOURCES
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