County Courthouses remain cautious as state begins to reopen

As restrictions are lifted and counties across Iowa begin to reopen, county courthouses are continuing to navigate serving the public while adapting to social distancing and public health measures.

In the Tri-County area, only the Jefferson County Courthouse has reopened to the public. Both the Henry County and Washington County courthouses are keeping their doors closed for the time being.

Each department within the Jefferson County Courthouse has made adaptations depending on the foot traffic it usually receives. Shannon Pearson, first deputy auditor in Jefferson County, noted the courthouse reopened on May 18. While the auditor's office is dealing with the upcoming primary, Pearson noted most foot traffic has decreased significantly as people have chosen to do mail-in ballots.

Meanwhile, the county's treasurer's office, which also handles driver's licenses, is open but by appointment only.

'Currently, we're booked out a week and a half,” Kelly Conner, an employee of the office said.

To help direct traffic, the department has stationed someone outside of their office and in the courthouse's lobby to help make sure only two people are in the office at any one time. The department is also sanitizing desks and pens between each appointment.

Kelly Spees, the county recorder, said their office has also implemented measures to keep traffic down and are also limiting the space to have three people in the office at a time. The recorder's office also includes two public computers, which are wiped down between each person. The county's passport agent is also going by appointment only. Spees added everyone in her office is currently wearing face coverings.

Currently, the courthouse is waiting for sneeze guards to arrive, which have been back-ordered, according to Spees.

'Right now, we're living with this as the new normal and we'll go with it as it progresses. We can always take the sneeze guards down and loosen restrictions in the future, but only time will tell,” Spees said.

Currently, the Henry County Courthouse will remain locked to the public until June 8, according to county auditor, Shelly Barber. The courthouse has been closed to the public since March 17. Barber noted the treasurer's office will be issuing driver's licenses by appointment only but will not be holding testing. Motor vehicle issuance and taxes will continue to be conducted online or through the dropbox located outside of the courthouse.

With the current primary election, Barber added all early voting is currently held at the Emergency Management Building through June 1, with polls open at regular locations on June 2. The departments will convene again on the week of June 8 to determine what they plan to do moving forward.

Similarly, Washington County auditor Dan Widmer said the Washington County Courthouse has also not determined a definite date for reopening. Widmer said he anticipates the departments will engage in a 'soft” reopening to meet the 10 person or less requirement as well as make sure to have adequate space to observe social distancing.

For Widmer's office specifically, to accommodate in-person absentee voting, the auditor's office is offering curbside voting. Voters can call into the office while parked outside the courthouse and a member from Widmer's team will walk down with the appropriate ballot.

'They can stay right in their car and vote without getting out,” Widmer said.

Overall, Widmer explained the departments housed within the courthouse do 'not feel prepared” to open up just yet and are continuing to seek guidance on how to maintain public health recommendations 'for employees and the public.”