The public will soon be free to check out books from the library and pay their utility bills in person at Lake City Hall and more, as local officials prepare to take the first steps toward some version of normalcy.
County-owned parks — except for Rum Island, which is still seeing construction work — are set to reopen Monday, though social distancing guidelines will still be in place and groups will be limited to 10 or fewer people. Community centers, however, will remain closed until further notice.
Meanwhile, certain government offices will be once again open to the public, according to the county.
Columbia County officials say they will be following the blueprint laid out in Gov. Ron DeSantis’ multi-phase plan to reopen Florida.
“The Board of County Commissioners appreciates everyone’s patience and support during this crisis,” County Manager Ben Scott said in a written statement. “Columbia County citizens’ health and safety are top priorities.”
The front doors at the courthouse annex building will remain locked but the side entrance will be open, allowing the public to access County Commission staff offices, the Property Appraiser’s Office and environmental health officials. The Tax Collector’s Office will operate by drive-thru services and by appointment only.
Building and zoning offices will remain closed until further notice, but will continue to issue permits and conduct inspections in accordance with current safety procedures, according to the county.
The county’s public library system will offer curbside service at all three branches Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Starting May 11, the libraries will resume normal operating hours “with restrictions in place,” county officials wrote in the statement. Questions can be directed to 386-758-2101.
For more specifics on county operations, members of the public can contact individual offices for further details. Contact information is available at columbiacountyfla.com.
The City Council is expected to make decisions about reopening during a Monday meeting.
“The earliest it would open up would be a day later,” said City Manager Joe Helfenberger.
Following suit with the county, the city is looking at reopening its parks to the public, Helfenberger said.
City Hall is currently staffed and conducting internal business, but the building is closed off to the general population. Helfenberger on Friday said he was still weighing what to recommend to the council as far as allowing residents back in.
Certain social distancing limitations will likely be in place and some departments may still not allow in-person visits from the public, Helfenberger said.
Also on Monday, the city will consider extending its declaration of a state of emergency, Helfenberger said.
The state of emergency is a mechanism to make the city eligible for state and federal cash. It is not a stay-at-home order and will not lock down businesses or government services.
“It helps us qualify for funding for extraordinary expenses due to the covid-19 crisis,” Helfenberger said.