The Manassas City Council unanimously voted to give local restaurants a break.
In a bipartisan decision at a special meeting Monday night, leaders opted to extend the deadline for city eateries to pay their monthly meals taxes. Originally due this month on March 20, restaurants now have until June 20 to pay their meals taxes accumulated for the months of March, April, and May.
Late fees won’t be applied to those who are paying late. The grace period does not apply for meals taxes owed to the city from January and February.
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In an eerie and nearly empty city council chamber, Manassas leaders moved ahead with the city's annual budget process in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
The City Council on Monday, March 16, 2020, chose to advertise a property tax rate of $1.48 per every $100 of the assessed Real Estate property value for its budget for Fiscal Year 2021, which begins July 1.
A tax levied on Real Estate is the key funding source for the city's proposed $253 million budget. The council took the vote during an emergency meeting called by Mayor Hal Parrish II. Â
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According to the City's website, as of March 18, 2020, the Offices of the City Treasurer, City Commissioner of Revenue, Registrar, Community Development (Inspections/Permits), and Department of Social Services are closed to the public. Residents are also able to conduct business online, by email, by phone, or by the drop-box located outside of City Hall. According to a document from the city, they have established an emergency food hotline for senior citizen residents. The hotline website encourages seniors in need of food during the pandemic to email [email protected] or call them at their food hotline at 703-335-8802. The hotline is staffed seven days a week from noon to 4 p.m. The Community Center will be closed until April 14 to protect the most vulnerable population (seniors) who are active users. The city's community center will remain open for religious worship services currently renting space. The city will be freezing memberships for community center members while closed. According to recommendations from Manassas City Manager Laszlo A. Palko, the city is working with Paypal and Merchant services to waive online fees for residents until April 14. This will help facilitate online payments of water and trash bills, according to the city. If these vendors will not waive the fee, the city will take on these expenditures for residents- an estimated $12,000 to $20,000 over the next 30 days, city documents state. With the closure of the community center, the Palko recommends continuing to pay their part-time employees while they are working fewer hours in order to preserve their employee base, reduce income burdens resulting from this pandemic, and to ensure the city limits the economic impact of this pandemic. Palko has requested spending authority up to $10,000, and to seek FEMA reimbursement post-Pandemic. In order to be able to secure FEMA reimbursements, Palko, along with the city's Governing Body, declared a Local Emergency. This was ratified on Tuesday, March 17, Manassas Park Mayor Janette Rishell confirmed. Palko has also authorized the extension of the Elderly Tax Relief deadline from April 1 to May 1 so that senior citizens can practice social distancing during the pandemic.In accordance with the Governor’s order to limit public gatherings, the City is complying to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, and to protect our residents. Effective today, City Hall will be closed to the public, except by appointments only. See: https://t.co/KmNNySJNFH pic.twitter.com/gGwMQXPe5K
— CityofManassasPark (@ManassasParkGov) March 18, 2020
Mary Washington Healthcare is hoping to ward off the spread of coronavirus by no longer allowing visitors at area facilities.
According to a press release, to minimize the risk to their patients and staff, Mary Washington Healthcare is taking extraordinary measures. Effective Sunday, March 15, 2020, at 8:00 p.m., Mary Washington Healthcare facilities, including Mary Washington Hospital and Stafford Hospital, will no longer allow visitors.
Mary Washington Healthcare will allow laboring mothers to have one designated support person during their hospital stay. Patients who are minors will be allowed two parents or guardians to remain with the patient.
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It’s business as usual at Occoquan Town Hall.
The Town web site contains links to the Prince William County Emergency Management website and to the Virginia Department of Health which contains information and updates on COVID-19 in our area. If you still have questions about COVID-19 after visiting these sites, you may call (877) ASK-VDH3 (877-275-8343) to speak with a public information representative.
The 21st annual Manassas St. Patrick's Day Parade will not proceed as planned.
Inisfail Inc., the organizing body of the Greater Manassas Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, announced Friday that it would cancel the event due to coronavirus concerns.
"The decision has been made to cancel the 2020 Greater Manassas St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This decision was made in coordination with local City and County Leaders," the organization posted to its social media page.
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More people are overdosing on heroin in Manassas.
City Police Chief Douglas Keen reports there have been 56 total heroin overdoses in the city in the past year. That’s an increase of 70 percent over the previous year.
A total of 12 people died in the city as a result of an overdose this past year.
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Where people once used to go hit the links, they’ll now be hitting the books.
Manassas Park agreed to $3.1 million deal with Maryland-based Library Systems & Services to create and manage a new library at the site of the old Generals Ridge Golf Course, now called Bloom’s Park, over the course of 10 years.
With that, the city will leave the Prince William County Public Library System, of which it’s been a member since 1979.
