Frequently Asked Questions
Below you will find information that might help you understand how to find things or learn about information you might need to know about your city or town.
Finance
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Finance
Currently, the mill rate for the City of Douglas is 6.991, with 1 mill dedicated to the Douglas-Coffee County Industrial Authority. The net mill rate for the City of Douglas is 5.991 mills.
Fire
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Fire
Because weather conditions often change, call us on the day you want to burn for a permit. If you live within city limits, call (912) 384-4815. If you live in the county, call (912) 389-4045.
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Fire
Fire Safety Week is always the first full week in October. Please check the city calendar, local media, or call us at (912) 384-4815 for activity information.
Human Resources
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Human Resources
The City of Douglas posts job openings in the lobby of City Hall (302 S. Madison Avenue), in the Douglas Enterprise, and on the City of Douglas website under job opportunities.
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No updates are available until the final close-out date on any job openings. Following the final application date, each application is screened, and the top 5-7 applications are given to the department head who will be supervising the new employee. The department head will then contact those applicants for interviews.Human Resources
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City of Douglas employee benefits include:Human Resources
- Health / life insurance
- Holidays
- Long-term disability
- Retirement
- Sick time
- Vacation days
Parks and Recreation
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First, come to our office and fill out a registration card. Sign the registration card and waiver, pay the fee, and bring a copy of your birth certificate for athletic programs.Parks and Recreation
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There are several ways you can find out more about the programs we offer including:Parks and Recreation
- Calling our office at (912) 384-5978
- Checking out the calendar of events on our website
- Picking up the Douglas-Coffee County Parks and Recreation Department Leisure Guide at our office or at several locations around town
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Our offices are located in Central Square Complex at: 200 C S. Madison Ave. Douglas, GA 31533Parks and Recreation
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Parks and Recreation
The City of Douglas facilities (such as the Weir Center, Central Square, Youth Center, and others) are managed by the Parks & Recreation Department. Reservation information can be obtained by email Carol Goodman or calling (912) 384-5978.
Police
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Police
Call the Police Department at (912) 384-2222 to check the status and availability of your report. Copies are available in person at the front window of the administrative services Office, which is located at the Police Department: 225 W. Bryan Street Douglas, GA 31533
You can also receive copies by mail by sending a written request to: Records Division Douglas Police Department 225 W. Bryan Street Douglas, GA 31533 You must provide the date of your incident / accident, location, and name of the victim. Reports are not faxed.
Fee:
- In person - $2.00 per copy
- By mail - $2.00 per copy
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Police
There are several ways you can pay your citations. The Police Department's page has detailed information about payment methods and about citations that can be paid without a court appearance. For information concerning your citation, please contact the Municipal Court office at (912) 260-3614.
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You may file your complaint at the Douglas Police Department. Come to the window at the Administrative Services Division and request a Citizens Complaint Form from any employee. Further information is contained on the form or is available from employees. The Police Department is located at: 225 W. Bryan Street Douglas, GA 31533Police
Public Works
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Call TransWaste at (912) 384-6001 to confirm your garbage pick-up day.Public Works
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To report a pothole or any other obstruction in the roadway, call the Public Works Department at (912) 389-3450.Public Works
Purchasing
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Purchasing
To become a City of Douglas vendor, complete the Bidder’s Application form, and fax to (912) 384-5076 or mail them to the Purchasing Department at: 123 W. Cherry St. Douglas, GA 31533. Link to Bidders Application Form
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Purchasing
Nikki Thompson is the City of Douglas purchasing agent. She may be reached by calling (912) 389-3463 or by email.
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Purchasing
The Purchasing Department keeps a list of all formal bids online, however, since this is a new system, some bids may not be listed. To request a copy of a bid, please contact Nikki Thompson at (912) 389-3463 or email purchasing@cityofdouglas.com.
Public Information
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Public Information
Our events are listed on the City of Douglas online events calendar. You can also watch WDTV Channel 13 for City of Douglas announcements or email the Visitor Information Center.
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Public Information
A select variety of souvenirs and gift items are available at the Public Information office located at 211 S. Gaskin Ave or at Heritage Station Museum, located at 219 W. Ward St., Douglas, GA 31533. The Douglas Visitor Information Center is open Monday - Friday 8:30am - 5pm. Email the Visitor Center
Community Development
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Community Development
You must get a building permit when you are adding on to an existing structure or moving any load-bearing walls. You must also get a permit to build any accessory building over 100 square feet. A permit is not required to put up a deck that is less than 30 inches off of the ground. If you are unsure whether you need a permit or not, please call the Building Inspections & Permits office at (912) 389-3423 for more information.
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Community Development
Every person who is engaged in business, trade, a profession, or occupation in Douglas should have a business license. An application can be obtained from the Code Enforcement Office at City Hall located at 302 S. Madison Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533.
The business license fee is determined by the number of full- and part-time employees of the business. For more information, call Code Enforcement at (912) 389-3460.
City Clerk
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Open records are any documents, papers, letters, maps, books, tapes, photos, computer-based or generated information, or similar material prepared and maintained or received in the course of operation of a public office.City Clerk
A person seeking records may fill out an Open Records Request Form and return it to the city clerk's office by fax, mail, or in person to: 224 E. Bryan St. P.O. Box 470 Douglas, GA 31534 Ph: (912) 389-3405 Fx: (912) 389-7079 Email: City Clerk Wynetta Bolder -
Generally, the City of Douglas takes up to three business days to respond to the requester.City Clerk
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City Clerk
The cost for production of documents depends on the amount of pages and time of retrieval. The first ten pages are $.10 (10 cents) per copy. Each page over ten is $.25 cents, per copy. If it takes a substantial amount of time to pull and copy the records, the cost will be the hourly pay of the lowest-paid employee capable of pulling the documents, excluding the first 15 minutes.
Mayor & Board of Commission
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Mayor & Board of Commission
Contact the Coffee County Elections Office at 912-384-7018 for your ward and commissioner based on your city address.
City Manager
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Come by the city manager's office and fill out a form. Clearly state your purpose for addressing the Commission. We will then advise the Mayor and Commission of your request and report back to you in a timely manner.City Manager
The city manager's office is located at: 224 E. Bryan St. Douglas, GA 31533 -
The City of Douglas has a written complaint process. Come to the city manager's office to fill out a complaint form. It will then be forwarded to the appropriate department, who will respond and report back to you. Citizens can also report their concerns online. The city manager's office is located at: 224 E. Bryan St. Douglas, GA 31533City Manager
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The City of Douglas is divided into six districts, or wards, each of which is represented by a commissioner. Call the city manager's office at (912) 389-3401 or the city clerk's office at (912) 389-3405 and give us your address to find out which commissioner represents your district.City Manager
Utility Billing & Customer Service
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That depends on the billing ward in which you live. To view meter reading and bill due dates for each ward, click on Utility Procedures and read page 8.Utility Billing & Customer Service
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No. The city is divided into four equal billing wards. To maximize the meter reading time and billing time, the city is divided into these wards using the number of meters. Reading meters and mailing and paying bills must all happen at a specific time.Utility Billing & Customer Service
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Utility Billing & Customer Service
Yes. The City of Douglas Utilities offers an online payment option that allows you to view and pay your bill online. You can pay either by a draft from your checking / savings account or with a credit card.
Cemetery
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Cemetery
The plot itself costs $400. There is a $10 recording fee, which brings the cost to $410.
Cemetery Deed: $30.00
Opening Permit: $50.00
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The cemetery is open from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. daily.Cemetery
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The Garden of Innocence is a designated area for the burial of infants 12 months old and younger. The cost to be buried in the Garden of Innocence is $185.Cemetery
Electric
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Electric
If you live within the City of Douglas, call the Electric Department at (912) 389-3445, dial 3-1-1, or (912) 384-3302 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
On weekends, after hours, and on holidays, dial 311 or call (912) 384-3302.
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Electric
Call the Electric Department at (912) 389-3445 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Holiday hours may differ.
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Electric
Call the City of Douglas Customer Care Department by dialing 311 or (912) 384-3302 or drop by City Hall, located at: 302 S. Madison Avenue, Douglas, GA 31533 Office hours are Monday through Friday (except on holidays) between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Natural Gas
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Call the City of Douglas Natural Gas Department at (912) 389-3427 and give us your name, address, and telephone number. We will then check our system and send a technician to your address to determine if natural gas service is available.Natural Gas
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Call the Natural Gas Department at (912) 389-3427. We will send out a technician to re-read your gas meter. We will then print out your gas bill history to see if your usage has been at a consistent level over the past several years. We also offer an energy study of your home to see how you can heat more effectively.Natural Gas
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Yes! Calling before you dig keeps you out of trouble with the law and with your neighbor by preventing the possibility of causing a power outage when you hit a buried utility line. Georgia law requires that anyone digging in Georgia contact the Georgia Utilities Protection Center at (800) 282-7400 three days before construction begins. The UPC can also be reached by dialing 8-1-1 or by visiting their website.Natural Gas
Water & Wastewater
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Hydrogen sulfide would most likely cause your water to smell like rotten eggs. The Water and Wastewater Department has more information about this chemical including its effects on the public.Water & Wastewater
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First, make sure all faucets inside and outside are turned off. Go out to your meter and remove the lid. You will see a leak indicator (a red star or a diamond). If the leak indicator is turning, it means that you have water leaking somewhere.Water & Wastewater
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Before you call a plumber or the City of Douglas, check to see if the clean-out valve is open and draining. If the clean-out is running properly, the backup is probably caused by obstructions in your lines. If the clean-out valve is stopped up, you can call the City of Douglas Water Department at (912) 389-3425, and they will send someone out to determine the cause.Water & Wastewater
Airport
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Yes, we have two courtesy vehicles available. Please call the Douglas Municipal Airport in advance at (912) 384-1409 to reserve a vehicle for your use.Airport
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Airport
Yes, there are seven major hotels within a quarter mile of the terminal. For more information on lodging, call the Tourism Office at (912) 384-1873.
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Airport
The airport terminal is open from Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Self Serve Jet A and 100 LL - Open 24hrs. a day seven days a week. The airport terminal is closed on Saturday, Sundays, and Holidays.
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Airport
Fuel prices are posted on AirNav and updated every Tuesday.
Main Street
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Yes. Through a collaborative effort with the Chamber of Commerce, a guide has been designed that will assist you with information on how to write a business plan to market your business.Main Street
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First National Bank of Coffee County and Colony Bank are the two local banks within the City of Douglas that offer potential small business owners the best interest rates and terms available.Main Street
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There are a variety of low-interest loans available for small business start-up. For more information about these loans and the procedure for getting them, please view the following page.Main Street
Municipal Court
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Municipal Court
To make a payment before the court date, citizens may pay by mail, by phone, online, or in person. No payments may be made on the day of court at the Municipal Court window. Payments for citations should be made payable to the City of Douglas. For those offenses which may be paid without a court appearance, payment can be made:
- By phone - 1-888-349-6221
- Online by clicking here, www.municipalonlinepayments.com.
- By mail to Douglas Municipal Court, 225 W. Bryan Street, Douglas, GA 31533 - Money order or Cashier’s Check only
- In person, at the Douglas Police Department, located at 225 W. Bryan Street - Money order, Cashier’s Check, or cash
If payment is not made before the court date, the citizen must appear in court and wait for their name to be called. Municipal Court is held at the Coffee County Law Enforcement Center located at 825 Thompson Drive, Douglas, 31535.
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Municipal Court
Municipal Court is held at the Coffee County Law Enforcement Center located at 825 Thompson Drive, Douglas, Georgia 31535.
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Municipal Court
If it is NOT a required court appearance and the fine was paid before the court date, then no, you do not have to appear before the court. To find out if your offense requires a court appearance, call (912) 260-3614.