The increased presence of constables at district magistrate offices in Carbon County will continue for at least few more weeks.

Carbon County Commissioners on Thursday approved a two-week extension of constable assistance at the four locations at the request of Court Administrator Greg Armstrong.

“In the wake of COVID-19, the constables have been stationed at the door reminding people about mask use in the public areas and asking about any symptoms, etc.,” Armstrong said. “The use of the constables has been heavier at some offices than others. I know Judge (Joseph) Homanko and his staff have been very appreciative.”

The constables, according to Armstrong, have been especially beneficial for already taxed office staffs trying to manage court schedules and required paperwork.

Armstrong said during Thursday’s commissioners meeting that he did not have the historical financial information to show how much the county had been spending to have the constables at court offices.

According to Carbon Sheriff Tony Harvilla, if the constables were no longer able to provide those services, deputies from his office would normally be tapped to fill that role. Currently, deputies are used at magistrate offices on Wednesdays, when the day’s schedule is filled with preliminary hearings.

“We would not be able to do any other days right now,” Harvilla said. “We’re facing our own challenges right now, as are other agencies, with vacancies, people off at training and medical leave of absences.”

The conversation on extending the use of constables at magistrate offices led to another discussion on altering the court schedule. All preliminary hearings are currently scheduled for Wednesdays at the four different magistrate locations.

Commissioner Chairman Wayne Nothstein suggested that might have to change in the future.

“It is something we have talked about throughout the years,” Nothstein said. “That kind of schedule creates an issue for our sheriffs department, our court administration, our public defenders and our district attorney’s office. I’m sure it stretched the police departments thin too with transporting prisoners possibly from multiple locations sometimes all for that one full day of hearings.”

Nothstein asked the courts to take a “serious look” at eliminating the process of scheduling preliminary hearings for just one day each week.

“We would be more than happy to meet with the judges to see what changes we can make to eliminate some of the personnel problems that come up with having all of those hearings on one day,” he added.

Harvilla said his office is currently in discussions with court administration on that topic.

“A lot of that,” he said, “has to do with individual decisions by the magistrates and the courts. Those conversations are happening.”