HURRICANE IAN UPDATE (1 p.m., Thursday)
A few Columbia County offices are re-opening Friday with Hurricane Ian passing to the south and east of the area.
Early Thursday afternoon, the county announced the Board of County Commissioners offices will be open Friday as well as the Columbia County Tax Collector’s office. The tax collector’s office will have limited staff on hand Friday, but both the main office and drive-through lane will be open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Tax Collector Kyle Keen has also extended September installment payments through Friday, Oct. 7. Online payments may still be made at any time.
The Columbia County Public Library will also open Friday at 9 a.m.
Waste collection, though, will remain closed until Monday.
“Due to staff constraints committed to storm damage assessment, make up collection days will not take place,” according to the county’s release.
However, to assist residents who did not receive pickup service today or Friday, the Winfield Solid Waste Facility, located at 1347 NW Oosterhoudt Lane, will accept Class 1 general household garbage Saturday and Monday. The garbage should not exceed a “reasonable” week’s worth of waste from a household.
Waste disposal fees at the landfill will be waived from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and Monday.