Holt County officials limit access to courthouse

Effective Monday, March 23, the Holt County courthouse and annex are open to customers by appointment only.

Holt County Supervisors approved a motion to limit access to the courthouse during an emergency video-conference meeting, March 20.

Limited access will be in effect until at least until March 31, when the supervisors will re-evaluate the situation at their regular meeting.

The meeting was called after department heads met Thursday to discuss possible procedures to enact.

Individuals needing to conduct business with county officials are now required to make an appointment by calling a specific office.

“We will closely follow the federal and state guidelines for controlling the COVID-19 virus,” county officials said in a press release issued Friday evening after the meeting. “Guidelines may change rapidly … We will do our best to communicate changes… Our goal is to serve our customers safely and efficiently. However, for the safety of the staff and the public, the decision to be open by appointment only will be implemented on Monday.”

Payments or documents for any of the courthouse offices, including those housed in the annex, may be mailed or dropped in the drop box on the south side of the courthouse.

Doors will be locked, with admittance allowed only through the south door of the courthouse. Included in the motion approved by the county leaders was a provision to hire an O’Neill firm, Guardian Security, to monitor and screen visitors, at a fee of $30 per hour.

Supervisor chairman Bill Tielke indicated there may be funding available to recoup costs associated with hiring the security firm.

“If somebody happened to show up at the courthouse without an appointment, they would basically stand there until the security person at the door could call whatever office they wanted to go to…and find out if that person was able to come in,” Tielke said.

“Along with that, the security person is going to find out if the person has been out of state, out of county, ask if they are feeling good. They’ll do a little bit of screening.”

Nebraska Probation officer Tara Sprigler-Price asked, “Are we going to be taking people’s temperatures?”

Sheriff Ben Matchett answered no, but visitors would be asked if they had one.

Access to the annex that houses the veteran’s service office, probation office, Nebraska Health and Human Services and University of Nebraska Extension office will also require appointments, with a staff member monitoring the locked door.

The extension office will be closed. University of Nebraska has mandated their employees work from home. The supervisors directed extension educator Amy Timmerman to close the office, with county-paid support staff working from home as well. Phone calls will be forwarded. 4-H families are advised they may deposit enrollment documents in the drop box located near the south door of the main courthouse. 4-H deadlines have not changed, according to Timmerman.

County and district court will continue as scheduled at this time, according to the press release. Since adjustments may occur rapidly, those scheduled to appear are asked to call ahead to verify if changes have been made. Entrance to the courtroom will be limited to individuals who must appear, with no more than 10 persons at any one time, including attorneys and courtroom personnel.

County officials “strongly recommend” the use of online services whenever possible.

The Holt County website may be accessed at co.holt.ne.us; motor vehicle and driver’s licenses may be renewed at dmv.nebraska.gov; and real estate and personal property tax payments may be made at nebraskataxesonline.us/.

Staff at all county offices are requesting the public call their respective offices and they will “gladly assist by telephone if possible,” at the following numbers:

Contact Information

County Assessor - 402-336-1624, [email protected]

County Attorney - 402-336-9911, [email protected]

County Clerk - 402-336-1762, [email protected]

County Court - 402-336-1662, [email protected]

Extension Office - 402-336-2760, [email protected]

County Treasurer - 402-336-1291, [email protected]

District Court - 402-336-2840, [email protected]

Public Defender -402-336-2847, [email protected]

Register of Deeds - 402-336-2250, [email protected]

Veterans Service Officer - 402-336-1200, [email protected]

Zoning Administrator - 402-340-4140, [email protected]

Department of Health and Human Services - 402-336-2750, press 0

Nebraska State Probation Office - 402-336-2594

The March 31 supervisors’ meeting will also be held via Zoom video conference, with the in-person meeting at the courthouse limited to 10 individuals, including the supervisors, with the public admitted on a first-come, first-served basis. Public comment time will still be held. Individuals who wish to speak will be admitted one at a time, also on a first-come, first serve-basis, dependent on the number of officials present.