The Carroll County Board of Supervisors will be holding off on opening the courthouse to the general public for at least another two weeks. Chair, Rich Ruggles, said during a special meeting Wednesday afternoon he does not believe it is in their best interest to rush into opening.
Ruggles added the confirmation of a second Carroll County COVID-19 case Wednesday morning was not a significant factor in their planning, and the board agreed keeping the courthouse closed through May 15 was their safest option. However, the Auditor’s Office will need to be accessible in some way from May 4 through June 1 for early voting inthe June primaries. Voters are strongly encouraged to cast their ballots through the mail, but Auditor, Kourtney Irlbeck, suggested they will be able to collect early votes through her office’s windows.
The board considered setting up a voting trailer in the parking lot for early voters but held off on a decision until it becomes clear that is needed. Dean Schettler requested patience from courthouse customers, as they do not know how long mitigation measures may need to be continued.
Gov. Kim Reynolds has suspended driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals through May 27, and based on that information, Treasurer, Jean Seidl, believes her office will need to return to normal operations by that date unless something changes. In preparation for when the courthouse does open on a limited basis, the supervisors are seeking bids on the construction and installation of plexiglass shields at the county offices.
