Positive COVID case results in tax office lockdown

A member of the staff of the Grady County Tax Commissioner’s office has tested positive for COVID-19 and during the office’s busiest time of year, its doors are locked to the public.

“I was notified late on Saturday night (Nov. 7) that we had a positive case,” Grady County Tax Commissioner Barbara Darus told The Messenger.

Darus immediately contacted her other employees to make them aware of the situation.

“We have locked the doors of the office and we are serving taxpayers through the drive-up window again. My staff wanted to continue to provide service to the taxpayers so we have cleaned everything. I talked to other tax commissioners around the state to get their advice,” Darus said.

The tax commissioner encourages taxpayers to utilize the online services available to taxpayers. For property taxes visit qpublic.net/ga/gradytax and for motor vehicles visit eservices.drives.ga.gov.

“We can also take payments over the phone,” Tax Commissioner Darus said.

Darus and the Board of Assessors consulted with the county’s human resource director, John White, who advised the doors to remain locked. The assessors office is also accepting phone calls, according to Darus.

Assessors are also available to wait on the public through the drive-up window.

In order to prevent any traffic jams, Darus urges taxpayers to approach the tax office from the east to turn into the drive-up window lane rather than from the west.

“I think that might work better. Also, the line will move faster if taxpayers have their correct information,” Darus said.

Darus said she regrets the inconvenience during this busy tax season, but she said she is focused on keeping her staff and the public safe by limiting exposure and maintaining social distancing as much as possible.

The tax commissioner anticipates being able to reopen the doors to her office by Nov. 18.