There are some government documents you have to get in person and that process has been postponed since March across the U.S.  Now counties are opening their doors again and Dodge County will open for marriage certificates and name or address changes on driver’s licenses on June 8. The county offices to obtain these documents are in the Government Services Building, 721 Main St. N, Mantorville.

The county had set up an appointment system for people to conduct these types of business before that and those appointment slots are full.

After June 8, if you need a marriage certificate or to make address or name changes on your driver’s license, you can to go the Government Services Building for these services. The building will be open from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“After that the doors will be locked to ensure we are able to complete our services with the customers who are already in the building. Our office hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday but customers who show up at 4 p.m. will find that the doors are locked,” explained Ryan DeCook, Director of Land Records.

County officials had hoped to reopen June 1 but that is just not possible.

Officials are reminding customers that appointments are available for the Finance Department, Administration, and Environmental Services but those offices will still be closed to the public for walk-in services after June 8.

The following information is being repeated from the post announcing the June 1 opening.

For those needing to replace expired drivers’ licenses, it’s important to remember,

in March, the state legislature approved a COVID-19 bill that extended the expiration date for “any valid driver's license, instruction permit, provisional license, operator's permit, limited license, and farm work license that would expire during the peacetime emergency.”

It is important to note that the expiration dates for these items is extended for two months after the month the peacetime emergency ends. The peacetime emergency has been extended through June 12; which means these items will not expire until two months after the end of June which is August 31. That is if the emergency is not extended again.

As far as REAL ID’s or enhanced drivers’ licenses or ID cards; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security authorized the extension of the deadline for people to acquire those documents a full year to Oct. 1, 2021.

“So, please,” explained DeCook, “Let’s try to focus on truly necessary appointments. We’re anticipating a rush of business around June 8, but we have assigned staff to handle the influx and just ask that you put off any business you can until the frenzy dies down. And please be patient.”

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors should not enter a County facility if they have had any symptoms of COVID-19 in the last seven days OR if they have had close contact with someone who was diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly encourage everyone visiting our facilities to wear an appropriate mask to cover the nose and mouth. We request that you put on the face covering before coming up to the building.

In the building, shields have been erected between employees and customers, and social distance spacing is marked on the floors so those waiting in line can stay separated.