Forsyth County bans restaurant dining, waives late tax penalties

Manager John Gore (left) and co-owner Phil Roness of Meehan’s Public House in Vinings await food to go customers, as the restaurant’s dining room is closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Forsyth County similarly has prohibited indoor dining at restaurants. AJC FILE

Manager John Gore (left) and co-owner Phil Roness of Meehan’s Public House in Vinings await food to go customers, as the restaurant’s dining room is closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Forsyth County similarly has prohibited indoor dining at restaurants. AJC FILE

The Forsyth County Commission chairman has signed additional declarations and orders regarding the COVID-19 emergency, barring indoor dining at restaurants and suspending certain county policies.

Restaurants and other eating establishments can continue to offer delivery, take-out or drive-through service, according to an order signed by Forsyth Chairman Laura Semanson. Failure to comply is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or jail term of up to 60 days.

Another order suspends purchasing policies for purchases to address the COVID-19 epidemic. A third cites limited staffing at the county and businesses struggling financially; Semanson declared that penalties and fines for missing the March 31 deadline to pay occupation taxes will be waived until the locally declared emergency is lifted.

Finally, Semanson directed the county’s procurement and information technology offices to come up with a way to provide online public viewing of bid openings for road construction and public works projects.

Information: https://bit.ly/2R7Xp8P