City of Valdosta and Lowndes County Issue March 20 COVID-19 Update
Valdosta-Lowndes County, Ga. – City of Valdosta and Lowndes County officials are closely monitoring information provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as well as the Georgia Department of Public Health, and are taking a variety of steps to slow/limit the spread and exposure of COVID-19 to the general public.
All city buildings will be closed to the public with the exception of the Police Department, effective Friday, March 20, 2020, until further notice. During this time customers are encouraged to work with staff by phone, email and of course utilize the City's website.
While all Lowndes County offices remain open, citizens are encouraged to call offices to see if business can be handled by phone, prior to conducting business in person. Lowndes County facility lobby areas will have limited access. Some court functions remain open. If you have a court date or other business with the court, you should contact your attorney.
All city and county public safety operations will continue, including services provided by the Fire Department, Police/Sheriff’s Department, Public Works and Utilities Department.
City of Valdosta services available online or remotely (and not in person) include:
• The payment of water/sewer bills, which can be completed online, by phone, mailed in, or deposited in the drop box located in the Customer Service Parking Lot.
• Questions about Business License renewals can be answered by emailing the City of Valdosta Customer Service at citybusinesslicense@valdostacity.com or calling 229-259-3520.
• For emergencies or to file a police report, please contact 911. For all other items, please call the Police Department at 229-242-2606.
• For all other services, please reach out to the main City Hall number at 229-259-3500 or utilize our website valdostacity.com.
• As a reminder, The Valdosta Click 'N Fix app can be used to report local service requests - such as potholes, damaged street signs and other issues that need attention. The app can be downloaded through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You can also access the web version of Valdosta Click N Fix on our website under the “Report a Concern” icon
Lowndes County services available online or remotely (and not in person) include:
• The Southern Judicial Circuit, which includes Lowndes County, has suspended jury trials and gathering of the grand jury. Any other court functions should be considered business as usual. Those with court related responsibilities are expected to appear unless otherwise notified by a proper authority.
• Those supervised by Lowndes County Probation should contact their probation officer for approval to report by phone. DUI Court participants and those supervised through ankle monitoring are still required to report in person.
• Residents in the unincorporated area that use Deep South Sanitation or Advanced Disposal for household garbage disposal should contact their hauler for directions regarding excess trash, bulk items, etc. that do not fit inside their can. Do not leave these items on the curb or by the road unless instructed to do so by your hauler.
All non-essential public meetings have been canceled, along with events scheduled at any city and county facility over the next 30 days.
The City of Valdosta and Lowndes County will post regular afternoon updates regarding this evolving situation through its social media pages.
Over the last week alone, information about COVID-19 has changed at a rapid pace. All community members are advised to visit the Georgia Department of Public Health website here: https://southhealthdistrict.com/ for the latest updates.
As a community, we have the ability make wise decisions that can, and will reduce the number of people exposed to COVID-19, according to local, state and federal health officials. Please continue to follow safety guidelines provided through the links above to keep our residents, businesses, and visitors safe.