There have been a lot of adjustments made on how routine business is conducted throughout Carroll County following Gov. Kim Reynolds’ Proclamation of Disaster Emergency on Tuesday morning. The Carroll County Courthouse has closed its doors to the public, but employees are still working and doing everything they can to assist residents with meeting their needs during this effort to flatten the curve and deter the spread of Covid-19. Carroll County Sheriff, Ken Pingrey, says they are trying to operate, as much as possible, on a “business as usual” model. They are taking many precautions to avoid coming into contact with an infected individual; however, they have been doing some of that already.
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Law enforcement agencies across the region have been working with the Sheriff’s Office to reduce exposure and the number of individuals brought into the jail.
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Other screening questions have also been added to the intake forms. Pingrey says he is being flooded with emails and other communications about the coronavirus. A lot of ideas are being thrown around.
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In accordance with adhering to the guidelines laid out by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pingrey says they are trying to handle as many calls as possible without physical contact. When they do have to make contact or go into a residence, the deputies are encouraged to use their best judgement, utilize their personal protective equipment and maintain that six-foot recommended social distance. With the courthouse closed for the foreseeable future, general business for the public is not possible at this time. Pingrey says the majority of walk-in traffic to their office is for weapon permits.
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Pingrey says the impact of this situation is far reaching and they are doing their best to minimize it. Therefore, the public will not be penalized for things such as license and registration renewals while the shutdown is in effect. He wants to assure the residents, however, they are still out there enforcing the law.
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In the last week, the call activity has decreased dramatically, which Pingrey says is a sign of how everyone is pulling together right now. He adds, as far as the mandated shutdowns, potential violations are going to be handled on a case-by-case basis. Law enforcement can cite a business owner with a simple misdemeanor charge if they are found in violation of the emergency proclamation. The Iowa Department of Public Safety has issued a notice saying all of the orders handed down by the governor that went into effect at noon on Tuesday are enforceable by peace officers and violations of such are considered a crime. If you have questions or need to reach the Sheriff’s Office for a non-emergency issue, you can call 792-4393.