As the holiday cheer sets in, Charlotte County is adjusting its governmental operations, with closures planned to give the community and its employees time to celebrate. According to an announcement on the Charlotte County government's website, offices including the Charlotte County Administration Center will be closed on Tuesday, December 24, and Wednesday, December 25, for Christmas, as well as on Wednesday, January 1, for New Year’s Day.
All advisory for those planning to pay their water and sewer bills, the Utilities Department's customer service will not be operating on these holiday dates, however, residents will still be able to settle their accounts through electronic billing on the Charlotte County official website or by phone at 941-764-4300, and for those dealing with utility emergencies during the festive downtime can take solace in the standby staff who will remain on call. Additionally, trash collection won’t be taking place on December 25 or January 1, and all collections for that week will be pushed back a day, hence the need to curb your waste expectations, so your Friday trash will wait until Saturday for pickup.
There's also a break for bibliophiles and history buffs, with Charlotte County Libraries and History Services Offices shuttering their doors during the holidays. Those needing a literary fix or looking to delve into the past will find the Port Charlotte Public Library, Englewood Charlotte Public Library, and Punta Gorda Charlotte Library closed on December 24, 25, and January 1, closing early on December 31, at 6 p.m. If you're holding out for some curbside pickup of your reserved titles at Centennial Park, you'll need to plan around the closures on December 24, 25, and January 1, and the early closure at 5 p.m. on December 31.
The holiday schedule also affects local recreation with the Captain Don Cerbone Memorial Skate Park open for those looking to grind some rails during the holidays while the J.M. Berlin/Rotary Skate Park remains closed. Fitness enthusiasts and leisure seekers will need to note that recreation centers at Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park, South County Regional Park, and Harold Avenue Regional Park will be closed on December 24, 25, and January 1, and all, including the Centennial Park Recreation Center, will close by 5 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and as for those looking to take a festive splash, the Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park Pool, along with the South County Regional Park Pool, will adhere to a similar schedule while Centennial Park Pool offers more flexibility, open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on December 24.
Finally, those who depend on Charlotte County Transit will need to make alternative arrangements as services are suspended on December 24, 25, and January 1. For the community's safety, although the Fire & EMS Headquarters will not be operating, all other stations will remain in service, ensuring that emergency responses stay steadfast in the spirit of protection and service through the season's festivities and gatherings.
