COVID-19 County Updates & Information

MASK MANDATE

Effective July 25, 2020, people in Minnesota are required to wear a face covering in all public indoor spaces and indoor businesses, per Executive Order 20-81. The County will have disposable masks available at public counters if you do not have one.

Common Exemptions that may apply in building- the list is not all inclusive:

The Executive Order provides exemptions for people with medical conditions, mental health conditions, or disabilities that makes them unable to tolerate wearing a face covering.

Children under the age of 5

Temporarily remove in offices with doors or cubicles with face height dividers

Outdoor spaces for workers where 6’ can be maintained none is required

Temporarily remove in meetings subject to open meeting law

County Courthouse Operations Update June 9, 2020

THE

STEVENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE

OFFICES

WILL

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Monday, June 22, 2020

The Courthouse will resume Summer Hours schedule of

8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Through Labor Day

THE

STEVENS COUNTY COURTHOUSE

OFFICES

ARE

OPEN BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

UNTIL JUNE 19, 2020

PLEASE CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT

ASSESSOR’S OFFICE – 320-208-6550

AUDITOR/TREASURER – 320-208-6570

COORDINATOR – 320-208-6583

COUNTY ATTORNEY – 320-208-6590

COURT ADMINISTRATION – 320-208-6640

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES – 320-208-6558

EXTENSION OFFICE – 320-208-6575

HUMAN RESOURCES – 320-208-6556

HUMAN SERVICES – 320-208-6600

SHERIFF OFFICE – 320-208-6500

RECORDER’S OFFICE – 320-208-6565

VETERANS SERVICE – 320-208-6555

Community Donation Notification - 04/08/2020

Starting on Monday, April 13th, the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and Morris Police Department will collect supplies for our local healthcare providers, day care providers and other essential services.

We are asking for clean, unopened personal protective equipment (masks, gowns, face shields, medical gloves), sewn face coverings, unopened hand sanitizer, and unopened sealed sanitizing wipes.

Please call the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office to schedule a time to drop off items, 320-208-6500.

There continues to be a need for food shelf donations, non-perishable food items may be dropped off inside the back door of the Old # 1 in Morris. Food shelf monetary donations can be dropped off at Bremer Bank in Morris.

Thank you for supporting our local needs!

Sheriff Jason Dingman and Police Chief Reggie Welle

County Operations Updates

Effective March 27, 2020 at 4:30PM

The County departments will still be responsive to public during normal business hours. You must contact department via phone or email published on our website. In response to the Governor’s Executive order we have moved all staff to telework that can. All employees will continue to work to meet your needs in the next two weeks.

Effective March 20, 2020 at 4:00PM

Effective at 4:30 pm on Friday March 20, 2020, Stevens County will be closed to the public. This action is being taken as an appropriate prevention and protection measure in response to the COVID-19.

Due to the current public health emergency, current recommendations from Horizon Public Health (HPH), Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) are all recommending social distancing and limited interaction with other individuals. In closing to the public, we can comply with these measures and work to keep our staff healthy to continue to serve the public in the coming days.

Until further notice, access to all county buildings will be restricted to staff only. Public will be by appointment only, where deemed appropriate. Courts will continue to serve the State of Minnesota and all related traffic will be subject to a health screen at the main entrance. All Court traffic shall use the main entrance door located at 400 Colorado Ave, Morris, MN. Courts will need to be called at 320.208.6640 for building access.

We encourage citizens to access services in the following order: Online/Phone/Email, dropbox in main entry of building, exchange documents at front door, last option is to have escorted building access.

All conference rooms and meeting rooms will be reserved for emergency operations only.

County Departments will continue to serve the public and continue to provide services during this time. All citizens should access the county website, www.co.stevens.mn.us, for further information regarding ways to access departments for needed business. Please call or email if you are struggling to find ways to access services.

Stevens County is taking this action to support the Federal and State orders to practice social distancing and ultimately protect our friends, neighbors, families, and communities.

On behalf of the Stevens County Board of Commissioners,

Rebecca Young

Stevens County Coordinator

rebeccayoung@co.stevens.mn.us

320.208.6583

Stevens County Operational Changes (PDF)

Stevens County Declaration of Emergency (PDF)

Stevens County Media Briefing (PDF)

March 20, 2020 Notice to All Residents

COVID-19 is a public health emergency. As such, the primary point of contact should remain public health websites below. The County is working on its emergency response and putting systems in place to continue to serve the public.

At this time, the County will remain open to the public. We are here to provide a variety of mandated services both from the state and federal government. However, we are strongly encouraging all citizens to call first and utilize as many services online that they can. This serves as notice to the public that the doors may lock at any time and access be restricted as it pertains to the COVID-19 emergency. Please see the helpful information below for conducting business.

Health Websites:

Horizon Public Health

MN Department of Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Resources for Individuals:

MN Unemployment Insurance

MN Employment and Economic Development

County Department Operations

County Board/Administration

Call Rebecca Young at 320.208.6583 or email to rebeccayoung@co.stevens.mn.us first with all questions.

All County Board meetings are recorded and posted to YouTube. Should the commissioners elect, as allowed under open meeting law, to limit in person attendance, a call-in number will be published on our website.

You can also access agendas and minutes from all board activity on our website.

Auditor/Treasurer Department

The Auditor/Treasurer’s office is encouraging taxpayers to sign up for the ACH direct payment program. With this program, tax payments will automatically be taken out of the designated account on the tax due date. Enrollees will receive a notification email one week prior to the tax due date. The ACH enrollment form is available on the county website at www.co.stevens.mn.us under Departments/Auditor Treasurer. The completed form can be returned to the Stevens County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office at 400 Colorado Ave, Suite 303, Morris MN 56267.

For more information please call 320-208-6570. Other payment options that are available are tax payment drop box located in the lobby of the courthouse, payment by credit card or e-check (convenience fee will be added) by calling the auditor/treasurer’s office at 320-208-6567, or mailing in tax payments. In person tax payments are discouraged at this time. Tax statements are planning to be mailed the end of March.

Highway Department

Call First at 320.589.7430

All permitting can be done online through the Stevens County website. There is availability to pay online, alternatively checks can be mailed to:

1762 State Hwy 9

Morris MN 56267

All county ditch questions and petitions may be sent via email to our ditch inspector at: scotterickson@co.stevens.mn.us

All road maintenance questions should be directed to Highway Maintenance Supervisor, this can be done via phone.

Encourage all contractors to access any plans for bid to utilize Egram.

All afterhours emergencies should be directed to Engineer, Maintenance Supervisor through the afterhours answering service or through dispatch.

Human Services

Call first at 320.208.6600 to see which services can be done over phone or email.

We are working to develop alternate manner of service delivery for our clients and will update this website as resources become available.

All child protection and adult protection intakes can be emailed to intake@co.stevens.mn.us

Recorder

Call first at 320.208.6565

The public can mail, scan, fax or drop off applications and the Recorder’s Office can mail out the records they need. Applications are on the Recorder’s website. Should the building close to the public, a drop box will be made available and marked in the front entrance.

If drop box is utilized, the following will be in effect:

The drop box will be used for vitals applications, documents for recording and abstracts to be updated. Documents will be recorded in the order that they were placed in the drop box. Applications for marriage licenses will require special circumstances and cannot be accepted through the drop box. Please call the Recorder’s Office to make arrangements.

Assessor

Call first at 320.208.6550. Most business can be conducted in alternate format via phone, email, or fax.

Veteran’s Services

Call first at 320.208.6555

Most business can be conducted via phone/mail/fax/email. Exception is any new paperwork for financial benefits will require the Veterans and sometimes spouses Signature.

Planning and Zoning/Environmental Services

Please call first prior to in person visit at 320.208.6558.

For questions on solid waste, recycling, household hazardous waste, land use permits, septic systems, and feedlots, please check the Environmental Services/Planning and Zoning website at https://www.co.stevens.mn.us/index.aspx?nid=889

If you still have questions, email Bill Kleindl at (billkleindl@co.stevens.mn.us) or call at 320-208-6558. If you leave a message, please include a phone number and Bill will reply by phone to answer any questions you have.

Attorney’s Office

The County Attorney’s office continues to prosecute crimes and handle civil matters for Stevens County and the cities of Morris, Hancock, Chokio, Donnelly, and Alberta.

For Victim Services, please call (320) 208-6590 or email stevenscoatty@co.stevens.mn.us.

For questions regarding court operations, check mncourts.gov. If you still have questions about a particular appearance, you may contact Stevens County Court Administration at (320) 208-6640

Sheriff’s Office

Please call first at 320.208.6500.

In emergencies, dial 911.