April 3 Status Update: The Latest from York County

Governor Northam's Executive Order Fifty-Five, announced and effective Monday, March 30, expands the closure of offices/facilities through June 10, 2020, unless amended or rescinded by a further executive order.  According to a press release from the Governor's office, the order directs all Virginians to stay home except in extremely limited circumstances. Individuals may leave their residence for allowable travel, including to seek medical attention, work, care for family or household members, obtain goods and services like groceries, prescriptions, and others as outlined in Executive Order Fifty-Three, and engage in outdoor activity with strict social distancing requirements. 
 
New Information re: County Programs/Services
 
Courts

• The Supreme Court of Virginia issued an Order EXTENDING the declaration of a Judicial Emergency in response to COVID-19 wherein it is ordered that Non-Essential, Non-Emergency court proceedings in all circuit and general district courts be in effect and continue beginning April 6 through April 26, 2020.  Read the Declaration here. 

 
Library

• The Tabb and Yorktown branches of the York County Public Library remain closed to the public.  However, library staff has been working with the County's WYCG-TV staff in producing several video tutorials on using the library's new website, acquiring a library card, accessing the Overdrive Digital Collection, and more.  These videos are available on the Library's website - www.yorkcounty.gov/library.  

Recap of this Week's Status Updates
 
County-Sponsored Special Events

• In accordance with the Governor's "Temporary Stay at Home Order" (EO-55), all county-sponsored special events scheduled at the waterfront during the month of May have been either cancelled or postponed.
  • The Art at the River Juried Art Show originally scheduled for Sunday, May 3 is cancelled.  The Art at the River Committee has opted to cancel vs postpone and is looking forward to the return of this prestigious community event on Sunday, May 2, 2021.
  • The hope at this time is for the Blues, Brews & BBQ Festival scheduled for Saturday, May 2 to be moved to a later date yet to be determined.
  • All waterfront Yorktown Market Days have been cancelled through May 30, including the Wellness Market on May 9.
  • The York County Historical Committee's Memorial Day Ceremony scheduled for Monday, May 25 at York Hall will also not take place this year. 
• Reminder: all April events previously cancelled or postponed include Civil War Weekend; YMCA 10K/5K/1-mile Family Fun Run; Mobjack Bay Coffee Roasters' Backyard Oyster Roast; Go Green opening Farmers Market; Ferrari Invasion; Sister Cities French Market and Pirates Invade Yorktown Festival. Any June events, including the Sounds of Summer series, will be evaluated at a later date. All announcements and updates can be found at www.visityorktown.org.    

Parks & Recreation

• County parks are open. In order to keep them open, we must all practice social distancing and be in compliance with Governor Ralph Northam's Stay at Home Order, issued Monday, March 30.
  
• Social distance of six feet apart at all times
• No groups of more than 10 people
• Exercise at our parks is meant for individuals and not groups 

The following restrictions are now in place for public health and safety: 

• Organized group practices are not permitted regardless of the number
• All playgrounds are closed
• All beaches are closed
• Fishing Pier at Yorktown Waterfront is closed
• All School fields in York County are closed to the public 

For more information, visit www.yorkcounty.gov/parksandrec or call
(757) 890-3500. 
 
Riverwalk Landing/Yorktown Beach

• The Yorktown Beach is closed to all activity.  This includes the National Park Service Beach Picnic Area and beach located west of the Coleman Bridge.
• The Riverwalk Landing pathway is open for pedestrians. Rules of social distancing apply (stay six feet apart) with group size limited to no more than 10 people.
• The Riverwalk Landing Piers remain closed (as announced March 24) to all local recreational boaters, transient boaters, and boaters working on the water, which includes the restroom facilities. These steps are taken to keep in compliance with CDC recommendations to stop the spread of COVID-19. At this time, the dockmaster's office will not be accepting any reservations and asks that all boaters avoid coming into our piers unless they are in need of immediate assistance. For questions, and concerns, please call (757) 890-3370 or email dockmaster@yorkcounty.gov.
• The Yorktown Fishing Pier is closed.
• All public parking areas are closed, included the Riverwalk Landing Parking Terrace, National Park Service Beach Picnic Area, Archer Cottage Lot (corner of Read and Water Streets), York Hall (301 Main Street), Yorktown Battlefield and Church Street lots.
• All public restroom facilities are closed. 

Sheriff's Office

• Reminder:  Visiting school or county playgrounds at this time is a violation of the Virginia State Code for trespassing.  We hope that all citizens will respect this necessary change to operations and adhere to the Governor's orders during the COVID-19 pandemic. When encountering anyone in violation of these orders, the Sheriff's Office will first request voluntary compliance and, in cases where someone refuses to leave a closed property or repeatedly returns after being warned, formal charges would be considered. For more information, please call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency number - (757) 890-3621.
• If you witness a crime in progress or if there is an emergency, dial 911.  Online reporting is available for citizens to file a crime report for certain offenses.  Details and the online form are available at www.yorkcounty.gov/1008/Reporting-a-Crime.  Citizens may call the no-emergency phone line to report a crime or ask a question:  (757) 890-3621. 

Waste Management Center

• With this week's closure of the VPPSA Compost Facility located at the Waste Management Center, County staff are working to provide limited service to citizens and local contractors with essential yard waste disposal needs who are delivering these materials to the Waste Management Center.  Upon arrival, those with yard debris will be directed to an alternate location on-site to drop off limbs, branches, and clear bags of natural yard waste.  Also, during VPPSA's temporary closure, citizens are reminded that the County has a Curbside Yard Debris Collection program. Details are available online at www.yorkcounty.gov/dpw or by calling (757) 890-3780. Citizens may schedule a yard debris pickup by phone or through our online Customer Service Request. 
• The Waste Management Center remains open to citizens for the drop off of garbage and recyclables.
• Residents dropping off metal items (such as appliances, bicycles, etc.) should follow on-site instructions provided by the scale operator.
• Citizens with household chemicals are asked to store them in a safe location at their homes until the next household chemical collection event can be scheduled. 

The closures/cancellations listing is regularly updated on the County's website - www.yorkcounty.gov - and is being shared on the County's Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/yorkcountyva/.  

For a listing of York County phone numbers, visit www.yorkcounty.gov/directory.