Most county services still open for business

Most Flathead County public services are operating as normal for now, but county staff is preparing to adjust as the situation surrounding the national COVID-19 outbreak develops.

There have been two impacts to county services: County libraries are closed and the Agency on Aging has suspended communal dining events at its facility.

With those exceptions, “we’re open for business,” said County Administrator Mike Pence. “Right now we’re in the mode for preparing for whatever comes.”

The Flathead County Motor Vehicles Department was operating normally on Monday. Flathead County Treasurer Adele Krantz said it was a typical day, with a full lobby and people lined up at the door as the department opened in the morning.

The hours of operation also remain the same.

But that could change. Pence said he had a long meeting with the county commissioners on Monday morning to “strategize” on how the county will move forward in the likely event of COVID-19 cases in Flathead County.

“We’re going to have to tighten things up,” Pence said. He said county employees could end up working from home and the county might have to adjust how it offers some services.

Pence said staff at the ImagineIF Library in Kalispell is trying to figure out how to provide materials to people without having them enter the facility.

He said there will still be meetings such as the weekly county commissioners’ meetings, but he discourages large crowds from attending. He added the commissioners will postpone items on the agenda if they expect the topic to draw a crowd into the chamber.

Reporter Colin Gaiser may be reached at 758-4439 or cgaiser@dailyinterlake.com