FOR THE TOMAHAWK LEADER

LINCOLN COUNTY – Lincoln County Administrative Coordinator Jason Hake announced limited access to county buildings that will take effect as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, and will remain in place until further notice.

County committee meetings will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and will be held via teleconference unless stated otherwise on the Lincoln County website. Public access instructions via teleconference will be posted online as part of the meeting notices, Hake stated.

The announcement comes in the wake of the March 17 statewide ban on mass gatherings of 10 more or people ordered by the State of Wisconsin and the Department of Health Services to slow the spread of COVID-19.

“To the greatest extent possible, business should be conducted online, over the phone or by mail,” Hake said. “You are encouraged to contact the applicable county department via email to assure that your needs can be met as quickly as possible. Department email address links are found on the county website at www.co.lincoln.wi.us.”

“At this time, our intention is to continue to provide all essential services; however, the COVID-19 pandemic and moratorium on mass gatherings require that to the greatest extent possible, we limit face-to-face interactions,” Hake stated.

Courthouse: Open to the public (for court-related purposes only) at this time, with significantly scaled back court operations. No public access for Wi-Fi use.  Individual departments may be closed within the Courthouse. Please email or call before going to conduct business for the following offices: Clerk of Circuit Court, Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court, District Attorney, or Victim Witness.

Health Department: Closed to the public with the exception of an appointment arranged in advance.

Highway Department: Limited lobby access by appointment arranged in advance. No public access to any shop areas.

Lincoln County Service Center: Closed to the public with the exception of an appointment arranged in advance. The following departments are located within the Service Center: Administration, County Clerk, Corporation Counsel, Emergency Management, Finance, Forestry, Information Technology, Land Services, Maintenance, Register of Deeds, Treasurer, UW Extension, and Veterans.

Sheriff’s Office: Administration lobby is closed to the public with the exception of an appointment arranged in advance. The jail lobby will be closed to the public. Inmate visitations will continue (HomeWave) from remote sites. Canteen funds can be mailed to the jail for inmates. Attorney and other professional visits will continue. However, persons arriving for such visits will have to use the call box to summon a Correctional Officer to be let in for visits.

Social Services: Limited public access to some programs, but only by appointment arranged in advance.

Solid Waste/Landfill: Scale window (only) open – normal business hours. No public access to scale building.

Board of Supervisors: County Board and Committee meetings are being reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Unless otherwise noted in the public meeting notice posted on the county website, until further notice, meetings will be held via teleconference. Public access instructions (via teleconference) will be posted online as part of the meeting notices.