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Dear Neighbor,
Today the Board of Supervisors met to discuss the impact of the coronavirus on the County's budget. If you were unable to tune in during the meeting, video will be available
online
on demand and I have included information about our discussion below.
This email also contains more information about the
temporary changes to
Fairfax County's solid waste collection requirements, which went into effect yesterday, Monday, March 30, and why they are necessary at this time. I have also included a reminder about how to conduct County business online and information on how to avoid scams, especially during this volatile time.
 How to Conduct County Business Online
While Fairfax County government buildings are closed to the public, the County remains open for business online, by phone, and through the mail. A full list of online service can be found on the County's
Assistance from a Distance webpage. This online portal includes:
Solid Waste Collection Changes Explained
Last week the County's Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) announced s
everal temporary changes to Fairfax County's solid waste collection requirements in response to the coronavirus public health emergency. The changes went into effect yesterday, Monday, March 30.
Board Members, myself included, received questions from residents concerned about these changes. In response, DPWES has shared more information about why they had to be made and the considerations that were taken into account. There are several reasons why the changes were made, including to:
- Protect the workforce and ensure that personnel remain available to collect trash and protect public health.
- Minimize workers' physical contact with surfaces where the coronavirus can survive for several days.
- Follow social distancing guidance by reducing crew sizes and using automated collection vehicles.
There has been a dramatic increase in trash, recycling, and yard waste because households are full of students and teleworking adults and spring weather has arrived. The additional volume is straining the solid waste collection system at a time when there are fewer workers available to collect, transport, and process the material.
Solid waste programs throughout the state and the nation are facing higher absenteeism due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus. Trash and recycling collection workers face the same challenges as everyone else, such as finding childcare and addressing family health concerns. This has caused a significant shortage of trained personnel to cover all the normal functions of solid waste programs. The remaining workforce is being deployed to provide only essential sanitation services - weekly trash collection, which can attract vermin and be a vector for disease if left uncollected. Yard waste collection and glass recycling are not essential to preserving public health.
Glass Recycling
Temporarily removing the purple, glass-only recycling containers not only eliminates additional driving routes, it also eliminates a place where people may congregate during Virginia Governor Northam's Stay at Home order. Glass can be stored at home until the purple containers return or placed in the trash.
Yard Waste
The County's Solid Waste Management Program is no longer requiring licensed companies to collect yard waste separately. Yard waste can be placed in the trashcan, but not left on the curb in bags or bundles. Residents are encouraged to manage yard waste on their property by mulching, backyard composting, or not generating yard waste at all if possible.
Best Practices for Residents
Residents can help reduce the volume of trash and create safer working conditions for workers by following these best practices:
- Reduce the waste households generate so the system is not overwhelmed; postpone spring cleaning.
- Wipe and disinfect cart handles and lids.
- Stop setting out yard waste at the curb; implement mulching or backyard composting.
- Seal sharp medical objects in a rigid plastic container with sturdy tape and label it "sharps."
- Bag all trash to limit workers' exposure to harmful materials.
These changes are only temporary. Full service will be restored once the public health emergency is over. This information is also available online at
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/publicworks/trash-and-yard-waste-collection-changes-explained.
Board of Supervisors Budget Committee Meeting Update
Due to the rapidly changing coronavirus situation, the Board of Supervisors recognizes the need to revisit the FY
2021 budget
proposal, which was developed before the coronavirus pandemic impacted the area. A revised proposal is expected to be distributed to the Board by April 7. As always, community input will be crucial as the budget process unfolds and accommodations will be made to ensure that it can be collected while following social distancing guidelines.
The County anticipates potential revenue losses in several categories, including sales tax, transit occupancy tax, business permits and licensing tax, personal property tax, and state revenue.
The County Executive has directed agencies to defer all non-critical expenditures and imposed a hiring freeze on non-critical positions. This year, the Third Quarter package includes only critical funding items with a balance of $11.3 million recommended to be set aside in a reserve to address impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. This reserve will be utilized to fund necessary spending requirements resulting from the pandemic, as well as to offset potential revenue losses.
Be Aware of Scams
As the coronavirus public health emergency continues, scam artists are taking advantage of the situation. This includes everything from selling products that supposedly will prevent, treat, or cure the virus to asking for donations to aid people who are sick.
Scammers have been using websites, fake emails, texts, and social media posts to raise money for phony charity projects and to sell fake safety measures and unproven treatments. Some emails claim to be from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Coronavirus scammers are using emotional hooks of fear, helpfulness, obedience, and greed to attempt to manipulate people. For instance, a recent scam email, supposedly from the World Health Organization, includes a link labelled "safety measures." Clicking on it prompts you to enter your email address and password to download the "safety measures" document. It is actually a ploy to install a virus on your computer.
Here is what you can do to stay safe:
- Do not click on links from sources you do not know.
- Make sure you use anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer and make sure it is up to date.
- Beware of phishing emails that allegedly come from the CDC or WHO.
- Watch for malicious Word documents, PDFs and MP4s that allegedly contain information about coronavirus prevention or have titles that allude to protection tips.
- Ignore online offers for vaccinations. Stop and consider, if there has been a medical breakthrough, would you be hearing about it for the first time through an ad or sales pitch?
- Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. Do not let anyone rush you into making a donation.
Coronavirus and Social Security Scams
Another coronavirus scam alleges that your Social Security benefits will be suspended because of the Social Security Administration (SSA)'s recent office closures. In fact, the SSA has stated that it will not suspend or decrease Social Security benefit payments or Supplemental Security Income payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here's how the scam works: A beneficiary may receive a letter through the U.S. Mail stating their payments will be suspended or discontinued unless they call the phone number referenced in the letter. By using the U.S. Mail, the scammers add a touch of credibility to the scam. Once the beneficiary calls, the scammer asks for their personal and financial information in order to maintain regular benefit payments during the office closure.
If you get any correspondence regarding SSA benefit cutoffs, the best thing to do is not respond and then report the scam to SSA at https://oig.ssa.gov/.
Stay Informed
Fairfax County is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving coronavirus situation. Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for coronavirus text alerts and to visit the frequently updated websites listed below.
Please share this information with your friends and neighbors and do not hesitate to contact my office if we can be of assistance; email
Dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov
or call 703-356-0551.
John
John W. Foust
Dranesville District Supervisor
1437 Balls Hill Road
McLean, VA 22101
Phone: 703-356-0551
Fax: 703-821-4275
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