The Washington County Courthouse will continue to operate on an appointment basis for the time being due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At Tuesday’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting Chairman Jack Seward provided an update on how the county will continue to serve people, “Our goal is to limit the impact of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable of our citizens and prevent overwhelming our healthcare services by encouraging compliance with common sense guidance from Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Public Health. With that in mind, Washington County operations will continue to do business in person by appointment as we have since March 17, 2020. That will allow us to monitor the effects of easing lockdown restrictions, as outlined in the governor’s proclamation, has on the spread of COVID-19, and the rate of increase in hospitalizations for Washington County before unlocking our doors to the public. Business in county offices will continue to be conducted remotely whenever possible, for example by mail, through electronic means and the internet, or by phone, we encourage the continuing use of those methods.”

In addition, County Auditor Dan Widmer said people who want to vote in the primary election on June 2nd have multiple options to do so. They can vote early by mail, but absentee ballot request forms must be turned in by this Friday. People can also park in front of the courthouse, call the auditor’s office, and have a ballot brought out to their vehicle to vote on site. And then people can also vote at the four polling places across the county on June 2nd. Ainsworth, Brighton, and Washington Wards 2 and 3 will vote at the Washington High School. Kalona and Riverside will vote at Riverside City Hall. Washington Wards 1 and 4 will vote at the county courthouse. And Wellman and West Chester residents can vote at the West Chester Heritage Building.