County works to limit potential exposure while maintaining needed services
Visitors to the county courthouse and other county buildings will be met with locked doors and a sign with numbers to the offices in the courthouse.
The move to limit access to county offices was approved during a meeting Tuesday evening and is designed to enforce social distancing and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The difficulty of limiting access to the county’s offices was apparent during an emergency meeting held by the County Commissioners Tuesday afternoon.
They convened to declare a local emergency to prepare for any necessary actions that may have to be taken to slow the spread of the coronavirus. The declaration also allows the county to be in line and prepared to receive federal and state funding associated with the coronavirus if or when it becomes available.
As they discussed the need to limit access to county offices, the varied number of services the county supplies or administers — child support payments, marriage certificates, deeds, obviously property tax collection, emergency court decisions like no-contact orders and oh yeah, early voting is set to begin the first week of April — added complications to closing all public access to county buildings.
According to County Clerk Amy Kippenbrock, at least 20 people pay child support at her office in person daily with up to 100 coming by on Fridays to pay.
Commissioner Chad Blessinger, the former county treasurer, added that with property tax payments, many people really liked to pay those in person.
Additionally, the courts are facing a difficult time as they petitioned the Supreme Court to limit cases to only those that would be deemed emergencies. As of Tuesday night, they had not received word on whether they could take that action.
While the cities and towns have limited access to their facilities through the use of drive-thru windows to make utility payments, they do not handle the plethora of civic needs the county does on a daily basis.
In the end, the commissioners determined the intricacies of a blanket closure of all offices or even the complications of allowing each elected official to determine their most essential services was too much to overcome at this time.
Commissioner Elmer Brames stated a complete closure may become necessary depending on how this situation continues to develop.
They passed a resolution to limit all access to county buildings to the public for all non-essential services unless for a public meeting, by appointment, or by order of the court. Residents are directed to contact the county offices by phone if you need to conduct essential business. This resolution is in effect from March 18, 2020, to April 6, 2020.
Residents can contact the county offices by telephone. Offices and numbers are listed here https://www.duboiscountyin.org/departments/index.php as well as on the courthouse entrance.
This closure includes the Purdue Extension offices. They are available by appointment only by contacting them at 812-482-1782 or email Lisa Wilson, 4-H Youth Development Educator lisawilson1@purdue.edu and Kenneth Eck- Ag and Natural Resources Educator kjeck@purdue.edu.
County Clerk Kippenbrock issued an additional statement Wednesday morning advising the public the clerk’s office is available for crucial business including child support payments, filing of new protective order cases and applications for marriage licenses.
When people arrive at the courthouse to go to the clerk’s office, they are being asked to call 812-481-7037 to be allowed entry to the building. Before entering they will be screened.
She also explained that some services could be conducted online. Residents can find paperwork related to a filing a case at www.indianalegalhelp.org.
Additionally, Crisis Connection is available to help with filling out protective order filings. They are at 1500 S Meridian Rd, Jasper or call at 812-482-1555.
You can e-file new cases into the court by going to https://www.in.gov/judiciary/efile/tyler.html.
You can pay traffic tickets, court fines and restitution online at www.paygov.us. Or call the clerk’s office to make a payment over the phone: 812-481-7035.
You can update your voter registration: please visit: www.indianavoters.com.
Additionally, you can mail in your early ballot. Request an application for vote by mail, please visit https://www.in.gov/sos/elections/2402.htm.
Clerk’s office hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Wednesdays open until 6:00 p.m.
