Commission totally closes courthouse to the public

By Anna Jauhola
The Kittson County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency at an emergency meeting on Friday, March 20 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The commissioners called into the meeting via a digital service called GoToMeeting, which is allowed for public meetings during an emergency.
Alongside the emergency declaration, the commission also approved a resolution to close the courthouse entirely to the public starting Monday, March 23, but keep county operations going. Offices will remain open with some employees working from home, and those unable to work from home will stagger shifts to ensure phones will be answered. Department heads will help determine who will be able to work from home.
County Administrator Eric Christensen said they have already set up a dropbox outside the courthouse for anyone to drop off payments or documents.
The Kittson County Highway Department building on the west side of Hallock will also be on total lockdown to the public, but employees will remain at work to continue providing services to the residents.
The commissioners will meet again, via GoToMeeting, on Tuesday, March 24 at 9 a.m.