NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 29, 2020
MEDIA CONTACT: Dana Kazel, Communications Manager
218-725-5049 (office) • 218-591-2219 (cell)
Auditor's Service Center to re-open Monday; update on other county operations
The St. Louis County Auditor's Service Center at the Miller Hill Mall will re-open Monday, June 1, though with numerous safety protocols in place to protect customers and employees. Even with the re-opening, people are encouraged to continue using the secure drop box outside the Service Center for transactions when at all possible.
The Auditor's Service Center will be open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A maximum of six customers will be allowed in the office at any time. All visitors and staff will be required to wear a face mask. Signage will be in place and staff will assist to direct people where to wait to maintain safe physical distancing.
Some reminders that may affect people's need to visit the Service Center:
- All Minnesota drivers licenses and ID’s have been extended until August 31, 2020, per Governor Walz’s executive order.
- All Real ID Requirements for boarding a domestic flight have been postponed until October 1, 2021.
- The Auditor's Service Center is currently unable to process passports at this time until the US Department of State authorizes resumption of this service.
All St. Louis County courthouses and buildings will remain closed to the public likely until June 15, though some in-person services are gradually being added. Arrowhead Regional Corrections probation staff will begin seeing treatment court clients within courthouse buildings beginning next week. This will be by appointment only for drug testing. Masks will be required, and other safety measures have been established. Meanwhile, the Sheriff's Office has already resumed offering fingerprinting services for St. Louis County needing background checks. This service is available by appointment only at the Courthouse in Duluth.
For all other departments and services, staff continue to provide support by phone, mail, email and online. Secure drop boxes remain available outside numerous county buildings for payments and transactions, with staff responding by mail to provide appropriate documents and receipts.
"There are many factors to consider as we move to re-open county buildings," said County Administrator Kevin Gray. "It's been two months since we closed our buildings to public walk-up services and shifted to services by phone, mail and electronic means. This has been largely successful, which is a real tribute to the flexibility and patience of both our citizens and staff. Moving forward, we continue to follow to the advice of our Public Health staff and Safety and Risk Management team, while also adhering to the guidance of the Minnesota Department of Health and CDC to ensure we are offering a safe environment for visitors and employees."
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