Gloucester County today issued an updated release about its ongoing response to the spread of COVID-19 through the community and nation.
Several county meetings, including the March 17 joint meeting with supervisors and school board and the March 25 budget public hearing, have already been canceled, as well as a planned April 1 budget work session.
The public hearings on the budget and accompanying tax rate will be rescheduled to a later date, which will be advertised in local media outlets, and announced on the county’s website and its social media, as well as dates for additional budget work sessions.
In the coming weeks, the county will be exploring the possibility of having meetings being held electronically. During this time, the County Attorney and County Administrator will continue to work together, with staff, to establish a timeline and appropriate tools/mechanisms for moving both the budget and other essential county business forward in a legal and compliant fashion, the release stated.
For more information, contact the County Administrator’s office at 804-693-4042 or e-mail county.administrator@gloucesterva.info.
Economic Development
Gloucester’s Economic Development staff has been working in conjunction with the Small Business Development Administration and the Virginia Employment Commission to provide the most up-to-date information on resources available for small businesses. A form to capture and report financial losses and employment changes was emailed out yesterday and is also available online at www.gloucesterva.info/econ. Contact Business Recovery Coordinator Sherry Spring at 804-693-1414 or email sspring@gloucesterva.info for more information, or visit www.gloucesterva.info/1189/COVID-19-BUSINESS-RESOURCES.
Parks, Recreation and Tourism
All county parks are open in a limited capacity for passive recreation and people are asked to observe the rules such as practicing social distancing, staying off playgrounds and no group gatherings or group sports. Disregarding these rules may result in park closures.
Public schools
Gloucester County Public Schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. For more information, visit https://gets.gc.k12.va.us.
Public utilities
As toilet paper runs short, many citizens may turn to alternatives such as “flushable” wipes and sanitizing wipes. The county warns that these poor substitutes can cause problems for the nation’s (and local) sewers that could include backups into homes and malfunctioning treatment equipment.
Cooperative Extension
Commercial Grower diagnostic testing services at the Virginia Tech Plant Disease Clinic: Due to the COVID-19 response in Blacksburg, the Plant Disease Clinic is without student workers and is prioritizing samples from commercial growers whose livelihood depends on accurate diagnosis. For samples from home landscapes, home gardens and public gardens (including samples from landscape professionals), the Plant Disease Clinic will use visual and microscopic examination to make the best diagnosis of the problem but will only culture samples from commercial growers. Local producers in need of plant diagnostic services, soil tests, and nematode assays are asked to contact Krista Gustafson by email at kgustafson@vt.edu to arrange delivery of test kits and/or pick up of plant samples. The Gloucester County week of 4-H Camp at Jamestown 4-H Educational Center (June 22-26) is full and on a waitlist.
“We understand that there is concern regarding the possibility of camp cancelation due to COVID-19 response. Parents should know that our first priority is camper health and safety, and that we are still engaged in planning a terrific camp week,” according to the office. “Should the 4-H Center need to cancel, participants will be refunded paid camp fees.”
For Extension information regarding family economics, food and health, contact Glenn Sturm, Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences at gjsturm@vt.edu. For information on 4-H and Agriculture and Natural Resources, contact Krista Gustafson at kgustafson@vt.edu. Those without access to email are asked to leave a message on the office main line at 804-693-2602.