In-person service resumes at Rock County offices May 1

Recent COVID-19 vaccine availability is allowing Rock County departments to resume walk-in transactions on May 1.
County administrator Kyle Oldre told commissioners at their April 6 meeting that county employees met the previous week and supported the reopening plan.
At that meeting, each employee was encouraged to receive the first of two vaccinations at a public health clinic on March 30. The second is completed in late April.
“Not that every staff member has taken it, but they have been given the opportunity to take it,” Oldre said. “We don’t see any reason to stay closed after that.”
For more than a year anyone wanting to do face-to-face transactions did so by making appointments with that department over the phone or online.
The time between appointments allowed staff to disinfect prior to the next customer in an effort to lessen the spread of the virus.
Commissioners unanimously supported the reopening plan.
“It felt really good to see that (on the agenda),” said Commissioner Sherri Thompson. “It’s like ‘we’re here’ at this point and we can start talking about it.”
However, until the state mandate is lifted, individuals entering the courthouse will need to continue to wear masks and follow the 3-foot social distancing recommendation.
All county buildings were locked down to the public for two weeks starting March 29, 2020. Each county department added barriers, implemented social-distancing guidelines and ways to conduct no-contact transactions.
Departments reopened to the public April 10, 2020, but high traffic departments such as licensing center, auditor-treasurer’s office, library and land management offices were by appointment only.
A no-contact process via drop box at the courthouse also began.
The drop box will continue to be a business option for the public for all county departments, including rural water, after May 1.
“Mainly it means we’ll take the signs off the door and say ‘come in,’” Oldre said.