Athens Reporter

The Athens-Clarke County Courthouse, located at 325 East Washington Street, will remain closed until Wednesday, July 31 to re-treat two areas for bed bugs and evaluate the remainder of the building.

After initial treatment was completed last week and the building cleared for a planned reopening on July 29, employees working on Sunday evening reported the possible presence of bed bugs.

Following consultation with the on-call pest control company and a building evaluation, Superior Court Chief Judge Lisa Lott issued an emergency order that will remain in effect until Wednesday, July 31. The order closes the courthouse, cancels jury trials and hearings, suspends many judicial activities, and addresses late filing dates, temporary protective orders, and other court-related issues.

Regular operations are expected to resume on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 8:00 AM.

Affected public offices in the courthouse include Superior Court, Municipal Court, Probate Court, Magistrate Court, Juvenile Court, State Court, the Clerk of Superior and State Court, the Sheriff’s Office, the Solicitor General’s Office, the District Attorney’s Office, the Tax Assessors Office, the Tax Commissioner’s Office, and Central Services Records and Mail Room. The courthouse parking deck remains open as usual.

For more information on services affected by this closure visit individual office websites at www.accgov.com or contact individual offices through phone or email contacts listed at www.accgov.com/directory. Emergency contact information for all offices will also be posted at the courthouse entrance.

Initial treatment for bed bugs on all five floors of the Athens-Clarke County Courthouse began on Tuesday, July 22 after the Athens-Clarke County Central Services Department was made aware of possible bed bugs in areas of the building and contacted an on-call pest control company for a full assessment. Although bed bugs were only found in areas on three levels initially treated involved closing and treating the entire facility.

Due to the number of visitors and employees who visit daily source of bed bugs is not known.

Bed bugs are small flat parasitic insects that cannot fly. They are usually transported from place to place as people travel. Bed bugs can be transported from many different sources including schools hotels used furniture.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), "bed bugs are not known to spread disease" and do not usually pose a serious medical threat. Bed bugs have been found in five-star hotels resorts their presence is not determined by cleanliness of living conditions where they are found.

For more information on bed bugs visit resources from CDC (www.cdc.gov/bed-bugs), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (www.epa.gov/bedbugs), Georgia Department Public Health (dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health/insects-and-diseases).