A candidate for state legislature filed for re-election to office on one of the first days face-to-face business was allowed at the Anoka County Government Center in weeks. The Elections and Voter Registration Service Counter opened to coincide with candidate filings. The Property Records and Taxation Counter was also among the first to reopen. “It has been six plus weeks,” said board chairman Scott Schulte. “We are excited to get back to somewhat normal, we’re not there yet, but at least we’re having some customer facing services that re-opened.”
“It includes the proper ‘PPE,’ whether its a face mask if you’re within that six foot range, we do sanitize regularly all the county employees are stepping up to the Governor’s orders and we ask the public when you interface with our county employees to do the same,” Schulte said.
Even with the partial reopening, most face to face services are still restricted. Each division is planning how to get back to in person service.
Schulte says changing the way the county conducts its business, wasn’t easy.
“We have 2000 employees in Anoka county and to figure out how to still do the same amount or necessary work in a completely new fashion, a way that we had begun to process some remote work, but not to this level. It’s been a major undertaking.”
It was also expensive. Schulte estimates it cost $30 to $50 million for everything the county had to do during the COVID-19 crisis so far. Some of it may be reimbursed by the federal government. He hopes lessons learned through those changes will help the county operate more efficiently, and be prepared for the next health crisis.
“We are going to be more efficient, more user friendly,” Schulte said. “This has forced us to escalate our remote working and our technology.”
With the threat of coronavirus still present, Schulte says it probably won’t be business as usual for awhile longer. Residents are advised to check the county website for updated information on changes in services. Officials urge residents to continue using drop boxes for county paperwork. There is a drop box located at the Blaine Human Services Center on 89th Avenue.
