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WHEELING -- Though the Ohio County City-County building will reopen to the public Monday, restrictions will be in place to ensure the safety of the public and employees.
Ohio County Commission President Tim McCormick said the public will be able to return to the building beginning next week. However, in addition to being screened and their belongings checked, visitors will also be stopped and turned away at the door if they do not wear a facemask.
"We're going to follow all the protocols we're supposed to follow, especially working with the health department" McCormick said Wednesday.
"You have to wear a mask. You'll be stopped as usual at the security checkpoint. If you don't have a mask, they'll send you out to get a mask. We cannot supply one for everybody.
"If and when you get upstairs, there will be the 6-foot spacing of social distancing. There's marks on the floor, and signs on the walls that say what department is where. There are drop boxes by every office, so if you need to drop something off, just use the box. There'll be Plexiglas up between the employees and the public … just as another level of protection for the public and employees both."
He added that employees who interact with the public regularly will be required to wear a mask. Those who have desks apart from one another must have a mask ready to put on if called to interact with someone.
McCormick encouraged visitors to call ahead of time to schedule an appointment, or if possible, take care of their business online or over the phone.
"There should not be a mad rush into the building. … We're going to make sure you get the service that you need. We recommend calling ahead and making an appointment, so if there's something you can mail in or do online, you can do it that way. If there is something you need to do in the building, such as a marriage license application, … you can make those arrangements."
McCormick added that license plate tags can be renewed online at transportation.wv.gov rather than coming into the building.
There is currently a temporary stay on enforcement of expired tags, due to the closure of government buildings across the state, in which tags that expired in March or April are valid for three months following their expiration date.
"Our janitors are doing a super job. Our maintenance guys are cleaning everything down a lot more than normal, wiping counters down, door handles, everything.
"Everything we're doing is day-by-day and week-by-week. If it flares up again, we may have to shut it down again, hopefully we won't have to. The public has done a super job of following protocol, and that's why we're where we're at now. If you don't need to come in, don't need to. If you do, call ahead, make an appointment, and you'll be fine."
Although Ohio County officials are taking steps to reopen the City-County Building, the city of Wheeling offices in the facility will remain closed until further notice as city leaders continue to plan and prepare for reopening.