The Town of Wake Forest continues taking precautions to promote social distancing and avoid large gatherings of people in response to health experts’ recommendations to slow the spread of COVID-19 . Following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and out of an abundance of caution, the Town of Wake Forest is making a series of adjustments to schedules, programs and operations.


Board of Commissioners Meeting
The Town of Wake Forest is postponing the Tuesday, March 17, Board of Commissioners meeting. All items on the March 17 agenda will be placed on the April 21 agenda.


Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources
All Wake Forest Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources facilities are now closed, including the Flaherty Park Community Center and Alston-Massenburg Center. The Joyner Park Community Center was already scheduled to be closed for maintenance.

In addition, all cultural programming (classes, events and camps) is canceled until at least Monday, April 6.

The PRCR Department will continue to offer a liberal refund policy for programs and rentals. Full refunds will be issued for any registered camps, classes and facility reservations canceled due to COVID-19, while pro-rated refunds will be issued for suspended programs that resume. For more information, call 919-435-9560.

On Friday, March 13, youth and adult sports (baseball, softball, kickball) leagues and programs were suspended through April 6 (no practices or games).

Although programs and classes are canceled or postponed, all Wake Forest parks and greenways will remain open to the public. 


Wake Forest Power
Wake Forest Power (WFP) understands that the COVID-19 outbreak may cause some valued customers to experience financial difficulty due to illness, quarantine or a disruption at work. As part of its commitment to serving and working with its customers during this difficult time, WFP has temporarily suspended all service disconnections for nonpayment until further notice.

WFP will continue to monitor guidance from public health agencies and provide updates on this policy moving forward.

In the meantime, WFP customers are urged to avoid paying bills in person and utilize alternate payment methods , including Wake Forest Pre-Pay Power, Online Bill Pay, Automatic Bank Draft and Equal Payment Plan. For complete information on these payment options, call 919-435-9478.

The Town of Wake Forest also provides a night deposit/drop box customers can use to make a payment during and after hours without physically going inside Town Hall.


Alerts & Closures
As this situation continues to evolve, expect further announcements about Town closures and service modifications.  Wake Forest residents are encouraged to visit the Town's website for a complete listing of Town cancellations, postponements and closures.


Town of Wake Forest App
Our COVID-19 web portal , including alerts, cancellations and closures, is now included as a function on the Town of Wake Forest app .


Let's Work Together
The Wake Forest Town Hall is open during normal business hours (8 a.m.-5 p.m.). However, the Town is implementing several operational changes at Town Hall and other Town facilities per federal, state and county guidelines to encourage social distancing and help prevent the spread of COVID-19. These changes are designed to model best practices for keeping staff and the public safe while the Town continues to provide essential services and keep its main facilities open.

Town officials are urging residents to limit their visits to Town facilities as much as possible by taking advantage of services that can be handled over the phone or online.

Anyone who must visit a Town facility is strongly encouraged to maintain a 'social distance' of six feet from Town staff and others when possible and utilize the hand sanitizer provided for the public throughout Town Hall and other Town buildings.

Community health and safety is the top priority for the Town of Wake Forest. The situation surrounding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is ever-changing, so officials are closely monitoring daily updates and following guidelines from the Wake County Health Department, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHSS) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). These guidelines have been implemented in protocols established by the Town to address potential exposure to the coronavirus and protect our community and staff.

As this situation continues to evolve, expect further announcements about Town closures and service modifications. 


Gentle Reminders
We are urging people who are at-risk and those who have a respiratory illness to avoid attending events for the time being. In addition, we encourage all community members to consider the following:



Town of Wake Forest - COVID-19 Portal
We have created a COVID-19 portal on our website to share information and provide updates. The page includes links to the websites of local, state, and national health experts, along with other useful information about COVID-19. We will update the webpage as circumstances warrant. The portal is also included as a function on the Town of Wake Forest app .


FAQs
The situation with COVID-19 is evolving. To help provide you with facts and allay your concerns Wake County created and is continually adding to a list of frequently asked questions .


Contact Information
If you have specific questions about COVID-19 and your risk, email  covid19.questions@wakegov.com  or call 919-856-7044 and someone from Wake County’s public health team will return your message within the next business day.
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If you have questions or comments about the Town of Wake Forest website or E-Notifier, please contact Bill Crabtree by email or call 919-435-9421.