Northwest Iowa — While many businesses and organizations are back to normal after helping flatten the COVID-19 hospitalization curve, some are still not back to normal, and events continue to fall.
Checking some situations around northwest Iowa, we found that the courthouses in the four northwest Iowa counties are all partially open.
In O’Brien County, Auditor Barb Rohwer says that at this time, appointments are required for everything at the courthouse. She says there is a drop box on the east side of the building by the flagpole, which is now available 24/7. She says they’re looking at relocating polling places for the November General Election because the small buildings that are normally used are not big enough spaces to allow for social distancing.
In Sioux County, their offices are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays, through one entrance only. Employees are in their offices from 8 to 4:30, however, and are available by phone or by appointment during that time. Courthouse officials say people are encouraged to wear a mask, but if you’re sick, they want you to stay home. Glass barriers are in place. There is a dropbox in place. And, at this time, the driver’s license personnel are only available at the Sioux Center location, at the Centre Mall, and NOT at the courthouse. However, other divisions of the Treasurer’s Office are still at the courthouse, such as motor vehicle and property tax.
In Osceola County, their offices are open, but it’s best to call ahead, as the situation keeps changing. They do have drop boxes in their drive-thru and entryway.
In Lyon County, offices are open at the courthouse, but appointments are necessary for the Treasurer’s office departments such as motor vehicle, driver’s license, and property tax.
All the counties advise that the clerks of court are a state office, so they have their own rules, which as of now state that they are to work behind closed doors. If you have business in the clerks’ offices, they ask you to call.
We also asked what the situation is in a number of northwest Iowa towns.
In Sheldon, the Main Street Cinemas are closed until they can obtain new releases. Chamber Director Shantel Oostra advised that it would be a good idea to call ahead if you have business in Sheldon offices. She says some fast food dining rooms may be closed as well.
In Sibley, we are told that everything is pretty well back to “normal”. They remind us that nursing homes continue to be closed to family and visitors.
In Hull, all businesses are open that were once closed. Hull Chamber officials tell us the Hull Historical Museum is still closed. They will be resuming their Chamber meetings in July.
Sioux Center Chamber officials say that most everything is back to normal there.
Rock Valley Chamber officials tell us that with the exception of religious services having to make adjustments, most everything there is normal as well. We are told some churches there are having to have more services and restrict attendants to people whose last names begin with a letter in a certain range of the alphabet, or similar restrictions, in order to comply with social distancing.
