Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin said he is not closing the courthouse.

However, he will issue an administrative order to extend the time of the current one that expires Jan. 4.

“I would say I will have it done Wednesday at the latest,” he said.

When asked what it would take to close the courthouse, he said, “You have to look at the facts as they exist.”

Baldwin said, “Our business is to serve the public.”

He said the county wants to continue to provide services and “not lay off employees.”

Still, he said there is a “tremendous spike in cases” in the county.

Baldwin, Commissioners Barron “Boots” Hetherington and George Halcovage Jr., County Administrator Gary Bender, Doreen Kutzler, interim human resources director, and First Assistant County Solicitor Glenn Roth, Chief Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Tobin and row officers attended the 2½ hour meeting discussing how to keep the public and staff safe while continuing services.

Department heads individually spent about 20 minutes talking about why the public visits their office, steps they have taken during the pandemic and suggestions to reduce interaction with the public to limit the potential spread of the virus. Some row officers called in because they were unable to make the meeting.

Clerk of Courts Maria Casey advocated for the courthouse to close at the weekly commissioners meeting.

“We have many cases in the courthouse. We have many cases in the prison,” Casey said.

She was the only row officer to advocate for closure Wednesday.

Casey said her office is where people pay costs, fines and restitutions. Bail is also paid in her office. A box is available at the security entrance for all but bail payments.

Hetherington also isn’t for closing the courthouse.

“The last thing we want to do is shut the place down cold. To me that would be being defeated,” he said.

District Attorney Michael O’Pake claimed “crime would run rampant” if the courthouse closed. He said the office has been closed recently to the public who must ring a bell outside the office. As another example, he said those stopping by to turn themselves in for bench warrants must wait outside the courthouse until called in front of a judge.

Sheriff’s office first line of defense

Tobin talked about how those who enter the courthouse are scanned for their temperatures and reasons people visit the office, which are for license to carry permits and fingerprinting.

“If someone needs to go to the Sheriff’s office for gun permits or fingerprinting, they must have to make an appointment to do so,” Tobin said.

Recently, a man, who had an appointment for fingerprinting, went through security with 104.1 degree temperature.

“I checked it three times,” he said, adding the third time was outside in cold weather.

Tobin said the man left.

“He never made it past security,” Tobin said.

“I know it’s been a lot of pressure in your office because of the virus,” Baldwin said.

Theresa Santai-Gaffney, register of wills and clerk of the orphans court, said her office is open by appointment, although sometimes people don’t abide by that. Some services can be done online or through the mail, although sending through the mail isn’t always the best thing.

“There is a problem with things getting mailed. Things get lost in the mail,” she said.

The office has online capabilities such as title searches.

Baldwin commented her on steps taken to address the pandemic, a message he shared with other row officers.

Controller Sharon Yackenchick said her office has little interaction with the public.

“We do get bids,” she said.

Because of the time sensitive nature of bidding requirements, it was suggested a time clock be near the security entrance to log in bids. Offices also have boxes where visitors can leave items for each office.

Treasurer Linda Marchalk said her office has also taken precautions. She said most of the services by the treasurer’s office can be done by mail. However, she did say people visit her office to pay for properties during upset and judicial sales, which can lead to people waiting in the hall. She said her office does not have the capability to work from home because there are no laptops.

Prothonotary Bridget McGowan Miller said all civil filings are done in her office.

“As far as I know, we are doing everything we can, and we feel very safe,” she said.

Recorder of Deeds Ann Dudish said people visit her office for deed information. Scheduling for title searches can be done by appointment, she said.