As of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24, the Lincoln County Service Center will close until further notice; with the exception of an appointment arranged in advance. Access to other buildings such as the courthouse and highway department building will be limited.
“As you know, effective 3/17/20, the State of Wisconsin/Department of Health Services ordered a statewide moratorium on mass gatherings of 10 or more people to slow the spread of the COVID-19,” stated Administrative Coordinator Jason Hake, as part of a press release issued Tuesday.
“Due to this moratorium, Lincoln County will be limiting access to county buildings for the health and wellbeing of the public and our employees. To the greatest extent possible, business should be conducted online, over the phone or by mail. 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 https://co.lincoln.wi.us/”
Beginning Tuesday, March 24, 2020 at 4:30 p.m. until further notice:
Court House: 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 Court House. 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, Victim Witness.
Health Department: Closed to the public with the exception of an appointment arranged in advance.
Highway: Limited lobby access by appointment arranged in advance. No public access to any shop areas.
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 summons 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 https://co.lincoln.wi.us/ until further notice, meetings will be held via teleconference. Public access (via teleconference) instructions will be posted online as part of the meeting notices.
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.