Starting Monday members of the public can again enter Park County facilities, including the county annex in Powell and the courthouse in Cody. The Park County Fairgrounds has also reopened to public events — though anyone wanting to use the facilities will have to abide by the continuing prohibition on most gatherings of 10 or more people. Meanwhile, the Park County Library System, which has been offering curbside service, has not yet determined when its doors will open again.

Park County commissioners had tentatively closed the county’s facilities through Tuesday, but decided to reopen a day earlier, after the State of Wyoming began relaxing some COVID-19-related restrictions last week.

“People are going to be expecting business back to fairly normal,” Commissioner Lee Livingston said at a special Friday meeting. Livingston said he didn’t want access to county offices being restricted beyond the current statewide health orders.

Commissioners had generally closed county facilities to the public on March 20. County staffers have remained available for business by phone, mail and email, but the limitations have drawn some frustration.

Over the past month and a half in the Park County Clerk’s Office, “I can tell you, unequivocally, that the phone calls have gotten much more urgent and they’ve become more and more angry, aggressive, much more aggressive,” First Deputy Clerk Hans Odde told commissioners.

The board endorsed a plan that, at least for this week, will still restrict foot traffic at the Park County Courthouse. Citizens are being asked to enter through the southeast door of the courthouse addition — near the clerk’s office — where they’ll be greeted by a public health employee and directed to the appropriate office; people are being asked to exit the courthouse via the southern door on the main courthouse, at the end of the ramp hallway (near public health). The goal of the precautions is to limit traffic to three people per office at a given time, in an effort to protect the health and safety of both county workers and the public.

“Ultimately this is a best guess; we can throw the doors open and just go crazy,” Park County Public Health Nurse Manager Bill Crampton told commissioners. However, “I would like to see a little formal structure initially and then if we don’t need it, we let it go,” Crampton said, adding that things will be reevaluated at the end of the week.

Park County Homeland Security Director Jack Tatum also offered that, “if we throw the doors open right away, it’s going to be incredibly difficult to ratchet back.”

For his part, Odde said he believed the restrictions were necessary for the next couple of weeks.

Staffers in the clerk’s office have been getting hung up on two to four times a day, “where people are just getting angry and they’re not wanting to deal with it,” Odde said. “And so, in that respect, I’m really, really pleased to have a plan that will keep some order coming through our office.”

While all county offices are now reopening, the circuit and district courts are remaining closed — including their clerk’s offices. The Wyoming Supreme Court has ordered that nearly all court hearings across the state be conducted by phone or video conferencing while other hearings have been delayed. Fifth Judicial District Court judges Bill Simpson and Bobbie Overfield have barred public spectators from their courtrooms until further notice.

The public closure of Park County Circuit Court includes the satellite office at the annex in Powell. The annex itself is open, though some services remain limited. For instance, Park County Public Health is available for in-person visits by appointment only.

“The doors [to the annex] are open, but it’s posted that, if you don’t have to come in, please don’t,” said Lillian Brazelton of Park County Public Health, adding that face coverings are encouraged.

Meanwhile, the basement of the courthouse addition — where commissioners have started holding their meetings — is also off limits to the public at this time.

Commissioners moved from their regular meeting room to the bigger alternate EOC room in the basement so they could follow the CDC’s guidelines to maintain 6 feet of separation. Commissioners decided Friday that they’ll continue to stay in their temporary quarters while the guidelines remain in place.

“I say lead by example,” Commissioner Livingston said. “If it’s in there and it’s recommended, let’s do it.”

The county is also continuing to stream its public meetings online — both to abide by the 10-person cap on gatherings and to provide an option for people who are uncomfortable with physically attending a meeting at this point in time.

Technically, the county is not subject to the limit on gatherings, as government functions are exempted from the order.

However, Park County Health Officer Dr. Aaron Billin encouraged the board to follow the guidelines when possible.

“If you have technology that allows you to lead by example, and show the public how you like things to be done in a safe way, I kind of agree with Commissioner Livingston: lead by example — do the right thing that we want the public to do, too,” Billin said.

It’s unclear when the state might relax the restrictions on gatherings, but Billin said that will likely be one of the last restrictions to go.

Park County Planning Director Joy Hill said the Planning and Zoning Commission has been planning to offer its May 19 meeting remotely. At least two of the P&Z commission members are not comfortable gathering in person, Hill said, and with the board’s meetings generally drawing 20 to 30 people, “I just don’t want that many people in this space.” People will be allowed to attend in-person, but remote attendance will be encouraged.

As an example of how the COVID-19 pandemic and the related restrictions has had varied effects on different industries and individuals, Hill said the planning and zoning office is “busier than we’ve been.”

“So this situation is not stopping people from development or subdivisions or anything,” she said, adding, “We’re just, like, booming.”

With access still being somewhat limited, Park County Public Health said the county appreciates the public’s patience.