UPDATE: Lavonia City Council Schedules Called Emergency Meeting “Outside” – Asks Public to Stay Home

The Lavonia City Council is holding an emergency meeting this afternoon and they’re doing it in a unique way.

They plan to hold it outdoors.

Earlier we told you the public was invited, but this morning City Manager Charles Cawthon asked that the public stay home for their own safety and protection and listen to 92.1 WLHR News for information from the meeting.

Cawthon tells WLHR News the meeting is expected to be very short.

City Hall is closed to the public during the COVID-19 crisis and the City Council meeting room is not large enough for everyone to keep a six-foot distance from each other.

Cawthon said there are two items on the agenda this afternoon.

One is expected to be the call for an emergency declaration by Mayor Courtney Umbehant for Lavonia residents to shelter in place in accordance with Governor Brian Kemp’s executive order that goes into effect today.

The other item will be a discussion on how future City Council meetings will be held or if they will be held at all.

The April City Council meeting is typically the first Monday of the month, which is this Monday, April 6.

Cawthon said the City is looking at a number of options to hold the meetings virtually so the public can view or listen to the meetings online.

Today’s emergency called meeting takes place at 2p outside City Hall and is open to the press and public.