Archive for March, 2020

Granville County Government declares State of Emergency

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with increasing confirmed cases in North Carolina, the Granville County Board of Commissioners has approved the issuance of a Declaration of a State of Emergency. Signed by Chairman David T. Smith, this declaration is also in response to the March 10, 2020 Executive Order No. 116 to coordinate response and to take protective actions regarding the prevention of the spread of the Coronavirus in our communities.

At the time of this document, Granville County has one confirmed case of COVID-19.

The Declaration includes all five municipalities of Granville County and goes into effect at 4:30 p.m. today, March 23, 2020.

To view the declaration, click here:

GRANVILLE COUNTY STATE OF EMERGENCY 032320

For the COVID-19 informational page for Granville County residents, please click here: 

https://www.granvillecounty.org/covid-19-information-for-granville-county-residents/

Operational changes announced for County Government

(For the most up-to-date listing, please visit the COVID-19 information page by clicking here: https://www.granvillecounty.org/covid-19-information-for-granville-county-residents/operational-changes-granville-county-government/

Granville County Government continues to work closely with Granville-Vance Public Health and to take precautionary measures, following guidance from the local health department and from the CDC. With everyone’s safety in mind, these operational changes have been implemented in response to COVID-19:

Granville County Senior Services: All three Senior Centers (Oxford, Creedmoor and Stovall) are closed to participants until further notice. Group activities, classes, group meetings and special events have been cancelled. Because the tax deadline has been changed to July 15, the tax assistance program has been temporarily suspended and will restart on Thursday, May 14 from 5 until 8 p.m., ending on July 9. Appointments currently on the books will be rescheduled and new appointments will be taken. Home delivered meals continue and congregate meals (on site) are available as a drive-through option. Those not able to use the drive-through option should call the Senior Center at 919-693-1930 to ask about being placed on a home-delivered route. KARTS has also made the decision to temporarily discontinue the around-town shuttle until further notice.

Granville County Library System: All four branches of the Granville County Library have been closed to the public as of March 21, but curbside service is available Monday through Friday at the Richard H. Thornton Library in Oxford and at the South Branch in Creedmoor. Library patrons can call or email either library to request materials for pickup between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., then give the library a call upon arrival. (Limit five books, five DVD’s and five audiobooks.) In addition, all scheduled events and programs have been cancelled and meeting rooms will not be available for public use until the state of emergency is lifted. All services to nursing homes and assisted living centers have also been postponed until further notice. Deadlines for all materials currently checked out will be automatically extended. The Thornton Library can be reached at 919-693-1121 and the phone number for the South Branch is 919-528-1752.

Department of Social Services: To better serve residents who need assistance, the Department of Social Services is also accepting applications for Food and Nutrition assistance, Medicaid, Work First Family Assistance or any other economic service program through DSS online, by phone or by mail. To apply by phone, please call 919-693-1511. To apply online, please visit https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/social-services/. To apply by mail, send application to P.O. Box 966, Oxford NC, 27565.

Granville County Animal Management: For safety precautions, please call the Animal Shelter at 919-693-6749 to make an appointment for adoptions, rescue pulls and viewing of lost animals.  For a limited time, all fees for pet adoptions and rescue pulls will be waived. A majority of volunteers are also being asked to not visit at this time, but to please continue to support the Animal Shelter by sharing animals available for rescue and adoption, as well as notices for lost animals. Rabies vaccinations for owned animals have been suspended until further notice. Animal Control officers continue to be on the job. Please call 919-693-6749 during normal operating hours of Monday through Friday, noon until 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., as most animal control concerns can be addressed over the phone. If you have an animal-related emergency, please call 9-1-1 to have Animal Control Officers contacted, who are available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.

Granville County Courthouse: As of March 23, the Granville County Clerk’s Office will be interacting with the public through their cashiering window. Residents are encouraged to call 919-690-4800 before coming to the courthouse, as there are a number of matters that can be handled over the phone or through the N.C. Courts’ website at www.nccourts.gov. By order of the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, many court matters are being continued and rescheduled until after April 13, 2020. Exceptions are proceedings necessary to preserve statutory and constitutional rights in criminal cases, such as first appearances; and proceedings necessary to obtaining emergency relief, such as protective and restraining orders. Matters that fall into these exceptions will proceed as necessary and required by law before the Court. Cases that will be continued and rescheduled until after April 13, 2020 include 1. Magistrate’s and Small Claims Court; 2. Regular Civil and Criminal District Court; 3. Civil and Criminal Superior Court; and 4. Most Estate and Special Proceedings Hearings before the Clerk. The Clerk’s Office will mail notice of a new hearing date for all matters that are continued and are rescheduled.

Granville County Sheriff’s Office: As of March 23 and until further notice, only one person will be admitted inside the front lobby of the Sheriff’s Office at a time. Visitation in the Granville County Jail is also restricted until further notice. Fingerprint services have been suspended until April 13. Effective immediately, crime reports of a non–violent nature will be taken over the phone or by email, if at all possible. These reports include, but are not limited to, misdemeanor theft, harassing communications, lost property, identity theft, computer/phone/mail scams. The phone number for the Sheriff’s Office is 919-693-3213 and the email address is granville.sheriff@granvillecounty.org. For more serious concerns, all residents are asked to call 9-1-1.

Granvillle County 9-1-1: Residents should be aware that telecommunicators are screening all calls for COVID-19 symptoms. Any “yes” answers to the questions asked will be relayed to emergency responders, so that they will be prepared and aware.

Inspections and Planning: As of Monday, March 23, the Planning and Inspections Department will be closed to the public. Residents can reach staff members by phone or by email. Appointments that are necessary will be made. In addition, a drop box will be located in the hallway for plan and application submittals. Field inspections will continue, but may be limited. Online payment access is also available. Call 919-603-1326 to have online payment link sent to your email address.

Tax Department: The Granville County Tax Office encourages all taxpayers to call for an appointment prior to their visit. Online payments are also accepted at https://www.granvillecounty.org/residents/online-payments/. Call 919-693-4181 for assistance.

Granville County Board of Elections: The Granville County Board of Elections is closed to the general public but will be taking calls at 919-693-2515 for information and appointments.

Granville County Office of N.C. Forest Service: The Granville office location is temporarily closed to the public until further notice. Burning permits will be made available online at ncforestservice.gov. Residents should be aware that staffing adjustments may increase response times for inquiries and assistance. To reach a staff member, call 919-482-2301. For emergencies, please dial 9-1-1.

Parks and Recreation: Although tournament play has been cancelled, Granville Athletic Park remains open. With the exception of playground equipment, the walking trails and other open spaces are available for public use. Residents are asked to follow health recommendations, including the practice of social distancing.  Remember that gatherings should be limited to 50 people or less. 

Soil and Water Conservation: The Soil and Water Conservation office is closed to the public until further notice; however, the Natural Resource Conservationist continues to work in the office and in the field and can be reached at 919-693-4603 or at byron.currin@granvillecounty.org.

Meeting cancellations: Several committee meetings and meetings of independent boards have been cancelled or postponed. For a listing of cancelled/postponed meetings and events scheduled through Granville County Government, please visit www.granvillecounty.org for notices.

(This listing was last updated on March 25, 2020)

For health updates, residents are asked to turn to reliable sources of information from the CDC (www.cdc.gov) and State Division of Public Health http://(https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/public-health/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-response-north-carolina) and Granville Vance Public Health (https://gvph.org/.)

Update provided – Vance County reports first case

(Edited March 26, 2020: For a list of all press releases submitted by Granville Vance Public Health, please click here: https://www.granvillecounty.org/covid-19-information-for-granville-county-residents/updates-from-granville-vance-public-health/)

Granville Vance Public Health has provided information about a confirmed case of COVID-19 in Vance County. Additional details are also shared about Granville County case reported March 20.

Click here to view the press release:

Press Release GVPH update – March 22 2020 (002) 

Granville reports first confirmed case of COVID-19

(Edited March 26, 2020: For a list of all press releases submitted by Granville Vance Public Health, please click here: https://www.granvillecounty.org/covid-19-information-for-granville-county-residents/updates-from-granville-vance-public-health/)

To view the press release from Granville Vance Public Health, click here: GVPH update 2 – March 20.

For additional news and updates, please visit the Granville Vance Public Health website at https://gvph.org.

Census 2020 moving ahead, with adjustments

The U.S Census Bureau has mailed out invitations for residents to participate in Census 2020 and be counted. According to Granville County Government’s Addressing Coordinator Sandy Woody, approximately 17 percent of Granville County residents have already responded in one of three ways: online, by phone or by mail.

“It only takes a few minutes to complete the survey,” Woody says. “It’s fast, it’s convenient and it’s important to meet the needs of our county.”

To help slow the spread of COVID-19, Census taking will continue with the following adjustments:

1. Online self responses will be accepted through Aug. 14, instead of July 31;
2. The count of those experiencing homelessness has been postponed from March 30, March 31 and April 1 to April 29, April 30 and May 1;
3. Regular non-response follow-up, which was to begin on May 13, will now begin no earlier than May 28.

Field operations will also be suspended until April 1. This step is being taken, as explained in a recent announcement by the Census Bureau, to help protect the health and safety of the American public, Census Bureau employees and those going through the hiring process for temporary census taker positions.

In late-May, census takers around the nation will begin visiting households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census to help complete the count. Further adjustments may be made as necessary to follow the guidance of federal, state and local health authorities. Completing Census forms quickly, the Bureau explains, is the best way to make sure a Census worker does not visit your home.

To eliminate possible exposure, the public is strongly encouraged to respond to the 2020 Census online at 2020Census.gov by using a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone or tablet. Respondents can also participate by calling the number provided in their survey packet, or by mail once they have received a paper form.

The online 2020 Census Response Rate Tracker has been updated with the first report of response data. The tracker is available online at https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html and will be refreshed on a regular basis.

For more details about the 2020 surveys, please visit www.Census.gov.

State Board of Elections investigating possible scam

RALEIGH, N.C. – The State Board of Elections is investigating a possible scam targeting North Carolinians with unsolicited text messages regarding their voter registration status or asking them to register to vote.

Recipients of the text messages should not click on the link embedded in the text and delete any such text messages from their phone.

The link sends recipients to what purports to be Vote.org’s website, but Vote.org officials confirmed Thursday that they are not sending the text messages.

The State Board is investigating and will alert state and federal authorities about the issue.

The State and County Boards of Elections have received numerous calls and emails from concerned recipients of the text messages.

“We know these texts can be confusing to voters, and we take this situation very seriously,” said Karen Brinson Bell, executive director of the State Board of Elections. “We urge all North Carolinians to get information about voting and voter registration from trusted, reliable sources, including your state and county boards of elections.”

Voters can check their registration status at any time using the State Board voter lookup tool here: https://vt.ncsbe.gov/RegLkup/.

If you would like to register to vote, the voter registration application can be found here: https://s3.amazonaws.com/dl.ncsbe.gov/Voter_Registration/NCVoterRegForm_06W.pdf.

For more information on voter registration in North Carolina, visit the State Board website at https://www.ncsbe.gov/Voters/Registering-to-Vote.

Vote.org also released a statement on Thursday:

“We at Vote.org take voter integrity and protection very seriously and ask that voters reach out directly to officials if they believe they have been contacted without solicitation. Text messages received in the last week were not that of Vote.org. We will continue to protect your vote, stay in communication with the North Carolina State Board of Elections and encourage voters to reference state registration websites and our official platforms at Vote.org. All communications received from Vote.org are marked as being such and can be found on official platforms.”

Announcement from Granville County Courthouse

To help minimize the exposure of the Coronavirus in North Carolina, by order of the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court, many court matters are being continued and rescheduled until after April 13, 2020.

Exceptions to this general rule are proceedings necessary to preserve statutory and constitutional rights in criminal cases, such as first appearances; and proceedings necessary to obtaining emergency relief, such as protective and restraining orders. Matters that fall into these exceptions will proceed as necessary and required by law before the Court.

Cases that will be continued and rescheduled until after April 13, 2020 include 1. Magistrate’s and Small Claims Court; 2. Regular Civil and Criminal District Court; 3. Civil and Criminal Superior Court; and 4. Most Estate and Special Proceedings Hearings before the Clerk. The Clerk’s Office will mail notice of a new hearing date for all matters that are continued and are rescheduled.

Residents are encouraged to handle any other matters with the court over the phone or by mail, if they are able to do so. Contact the Clerk of Court’s office at 919-690-4800.

Library System implements safety measures

All four branches of the Granville County Library System have implemented measures to reduce risk of virus exposure to patrons and staff. Measures that are being taken include:

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• All events and programs schedule through the Granville County Library System are cancelled until further notice;
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• Meeting rooms will not be available for public use until the state of emergency is lifted;
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• All services to nursing homes and assisted living centers have been postponed until further notice;
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• Computers and seating have been reconfigured in observance of the “social distancing” recommendation by health officials;
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• Legos, toys and kits from the children’s area will not be available for use until further notice;
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• Deadlines for all materials currently checked out will be automatically extended;
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• Cash handling is limited.
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In addition, patrons are encouraged to return books via the book drop box, outside of the library facilities, when possible, and are reminded that E-books are also available.

These measures have been approved by the Granville County Board of Commissioners and are now in effect.

While all four libraries remain open, please note that operating hours at your local branch may change. For questions or for more information, please call:

Richard H. Thornton Library, Oxford: 919-693-1121

South Branch Library, Creedmoor: 919-528-1752

Stovall Branch Library: 919-693-5722

Berea Branch Library: 919-693-1231

Click here to visit the Granville County Library System’s website: 

https://granville.lib.nc.us/

Three Senior Centers to close to public on March 18

At their March 16 meeting, Granville County Commissioners voted to close all three Senior Centers (Oxford, Creedmoor and Stovall) until further notice. This decision was made in an effort to protect participating older adults from the COVID-19 virus, as senior residents are the most vulnerable.

Group activities, classes, group meetings and special events have been cancelled as of Wednesday, March 18 at 8 a.m. Tax assistance, offered on Thursday evenings in small groups, will continue until notified.

Home delivered meals will continue to be delivered, and congregate meals (on site) will still be available as a drive-through option. Congregate participants may pick up meals at the Oxford Senior Center, 107 Lanier Street, between the hours of 11 a.m. and noon, but must order one day ahead by calling 919-693-1930. Those utilizing the drive-through services of the satellite centers should call the Centers in Creedmoor (919-528-0848) or in Stovall (919-693-3383) to make arrangements. 

Those not able to use the drive-through option should call the Senior Center to inquire about being placed on a home-delivered route.

KARTS has also made the decision to temporarily discontinue the around-town shuttle until further notice. 

Those with questions are asked to call 919-693-1930; however, the doors of all three Senior Centers will remain open between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday as staff will be available to provide one-on-one assistance and answer questions as needed.