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White County News
The White County Board of Commissioners approved a new measure Thursday evening that closes tourist accommodations and requires nonresidents to leave such facilities by this weekend.
Board Chairman Travis Turner lamented having to take such action since the county normally welcomes tourism, but added there continues to be reports of people ignoring shelter-in-place orders elsewhere in Georgia and neighboring states.
“Unfortunately, because we’re hearing stories where folks outside of our area are still in the process of trying to rent these rental properties, short-term rental properties and so on, trying to escape wherever they are currently to come up here to our area, [it] has prompted the Board to review our stance,” he said at the April 2 emergency called meeting held by teleconference.
No new reservations and business will be allowed starting at noon Friday, April 3, for hotels, motels, inns, short-term vacation rental/cabins, campgrounds, recreational vehicle parks and resorts located in White County. Non-White County residents currently staying at these locations have until noon Saturday, April 4, to leave the rentals.
The closings are part of an amendment to White County’s COVID-19 State of Emergency Resolution initially approved last week that closed some tourist attractions and select businesses in the county’s unincorporated areas in an effort to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus.
“I really hate to have to go this far, but I think because people are not observing the shelter-in-place ordinances that are in the state, that we just have to try to enforce it the best way we can,” said Commissioner Terry Goodger.
The closings will be in effect until April 13 and will automatically extend with additional shelter-in-place orders by the Gov. Brian Kemp or by rescinding action of the county Board of Commissioners.
“Unfortunately we have to take these measures to protect our citizens from visitors potentially spreading the coronavirus in our county,” Turner said in a statement released after the meeting. “Most of our attractions, such as Babyland General, the winery tasting rooms and the U.S. Forest Service Trails are closed, and we are asking non-residents to not visit White County for the next couple of weeks to try to prevent any further spread of the virus.”
The county resolution comes a day after Georgia’s governor announced in a Wednesday afternoon press conference that a statewide shelter-in-place order would be forthcoming.
White County has information posted at www.whitecounty.net under the COVID-19 icon, and residents also can get information from the Georgia statewide hotline at 1-844-442-2681.