Commissioner’s Office Open To Public Again

By REBECCA HAZEN
News Editor

The Dade County Board of Commissioner’s Administration Office was closed to walk-in visitors last week due to a COVID-19 positivity case, but has reopened again.

“We have had an exposure in the office, so we are following all protocols. We are social distancing and wearing masks and trying to keep people home if they can work from home,” Public Information Officer Carey Anderson said during the county update on Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Robert Goff, Vice Chair of the Board of Commissioners, spoke during the weekly update on behalf of County Executive Ted Rumley, who tested positive for COVID-19 last week.

“Ted Rumley did contract COVID. He has not been hospitalized,” Goff said. “He has some coughing. His biggest problem is fatigue. Keep Ted and Diane in your prayers and in your thoughts.”

Goff noted that the Commissioner’s Office is doing their best to make it a safe environment. There is hand sanitizer set up for anyone who enters the building, and the building is being sanitized after every shift.

“People have not been able to come and go, but we hope to get that back because that’s something we enjoy,” Goff said.

Goff said that a lobby enclosure was installed last week to help limit exposure. It was built with funds that were allocated for COVID-19 prevention measures. Goff also encouraged people to call the administrative offices at (706) 657-4625 with any questions, noting that a call might save someone a trip to the office.

In other community related news, Goff noted that the Dade County Sheriff’s Office lobby will be closed and fingerprinting is suspended until further notice.

The Georgia Department of Driver Services schedule for 2021 can be found online at www.dadecounty-ga.gov. Driver Services is scheduled to be at the Dade County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 11 and 25 and Feb. 8 and 22.

Goff also remembered community member Doug Anderton, who passed away past week.

“Doug had a great resume, not only through Dade County, but through the water authorities. For 48 years he was working with Dade County Water and Sewer. Keep the family in your prayers,” Goff said.

Goff also noted that Governor Brian Kemp extended Georgia’s Public Health State of Emergency until Jan. 8

Goff reminded the community that COVID-19 testing drive thru is still ongoing on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. until noon and at 12:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Dade County Health Department. For more information, call (706) 657-4213.

Anderson listed Georgia COVID-19 case statistics by Johns Hopkins: 22.9 percent of cases are ages 18-29, 20.6 percent of cases are ages 50-64, 16.5 percent of cases are ages 30-39, 25.1 percent are ages 40-49, 8.7 percent are ages 5-17. 7.7 percent are ages 65-74, 4.1 percent are ages 75-84 and 2.6 percent is ages 85 and over.

Dade County has seen 68 cases in the past two weeks, for a total of 728 COVID-19 cases. The number of cases can be found at https://dph.georgia.gov/covid-19-daily-status-report.

Anderson also congratulated all of the newly sworn in public officers from this week: Dade County Coroner Courtney Gross, Deputy Coroners Sandra Grey and Ansel Smith, Tax Commissioner Angie Moreland Galloway and Clerk of the Superior Court Kathy Page.

Goff ended his portion of the update by wishing everyone a Happy New Year.

“It’s been a terrible year, but it’s been a great year. We learned to think out of the box. We have learned to do things differently and still get things done. When it comes down to it, we are all friends, neighbors and family. We live, we work, we play and we worship here in Dade County. God has blessed us,” Goff said.