Courthouse opens this week

GARNER - The Hancock County Courthouse opened again to the public on Tuesday – with restrictions in place. Andy Buffington, Emergency Management Director for Hancock County, in cooperation with the department heads, presented a plan for approval by the county supervisors on Monday. 

The plan is intended to provide logistics and protocols for the safe reopening of the Hancock County Courthouse and to provide services to the citizens. It assumes that any individual entering the courthouse, whether an employee or visitor, has the potential to spread a communicable disease during their visit.

Some of the changes you will see at the courthouse include:

•Public entrance for courthouse business will be the east entryway. Visitors will be instructed to exit utilizing the west entryway. 

Visitors with access or functional needs may use the east entry (which is handicapped accessible) for both entering and existing the courthouse.

• Notices will be posted on all public doors advising visitors to call the office they intend to visit instead of entering if they have a fever, cough or respiratory illness. Visitors are asked to maintain at least 6 feet of distance between them and anyone they do not share a household with.

•Floors will marked where visitors are encouraged to stand while being assisted.

One customer will be provided assistance at a time. Members of the same household may join them as the office counters if needed. Any other customer will be politely asked to wait away from the counter until called forward.

•Drop boxes each office will continue to be maintained outside on the northeast the courthouse.

•Each county office may conduct business by appointment as necessary and as needed and will determine how the public may make an appointment.

•Counters will be sanitized prior to inviting the next customer forward. Employees are to sanitize their hands prior to assisting another customer.

Other information 

Cale Edwards, County Conservation Director, reports county-operated camp grounds opened on Monday. Camping is allowed on every other campsite to allow for social distancing. All restrooms and showers will remain closed until further notice. All playgrounds will remain closed per orders from the Governor. More information on county parks, visit www.mycountyparks.com.

The Assessor's office will be open as normal, according to Marianne Welsch, County Assessor. “Just as a reminder, parcel information is on my web site at: https://hancock.iowaassessors.com

For assessment questions, please call 641-923-2269. Forms and credit applications may be mailed to Hancock County Assessor, 855 State St, Garner, IA 50438, faxed to 641-923-3097 or emailed to marianne.welsch@hancockcountyia.org

The Hancock County Engineer’s Office is open during regular courthouse hours “but we want the public to know that our office prefers them to call us FIRST before coming to the courthouse as we can handle most services they need over the phone and via email,” said Lynn Bruggeman, office administrator.

Gerald Edgar, Veterans Affairs Director, said, “We keep doors locked but all anyone has to do is 'knock' or as good or better, call ahead and let me know when they will be here. I make house-calls too, as usual, but at arms length in their doorway.”