YOUNGSTOWN - The Mahoning County Commissioners announced on Tuesday that they are imposing temporary changes to public access to government services.

According to a statement from the board of commissioners, the temporary changes are being made in an attempt to address the current coronavirus public health crisis.

Commissioners say closures and limitations in public access to County services are based on what are considered essential services.

The following is the most updated information regarding access to County offices and related services. Updates to this information may be necessary as changes in the situation develop.

While most offices remain open, commissioners are asking that only essential business with the County be conducted in person and when necessary, physical proximity and personal hygiene recommendations be followed:

MAHONING COUNTY COURTHOUSE – Open. Access will be scrutinized by security with health screening being utilized upon entry.

COMMISSIONERS’ PUBLIC HEARINGS – While the hearings are open to the public the seating will be spaced out to address proximity protocol. In addition individuals can conference in, we have made arrangements to use the following: Conference Bridge: Outside phone line: 330-740-2131, Access Code: 0988980, (Note: Internal county department call use ext. 8166) for public access to meetings.

AUDITOR’S OFFICE – Public Counter is open holding regular and telephone hours. The office has staggered its staff and is asking for proximity limitations at the Counter.

TREASURER’S OFFICE – Office is closed to the public with the exception of limited title searches. Internal and external pay-ins and necessary business to be conducted through the specified entrance.

RECORDER’S OFFICE – Public Counter and title search areas are open regular hours. Exercise social distancing and proximities when possible and use sanitation wipes provided.

COMMON PLEAS, PROBATE, AND DOMESTIC COURTS – Courts will continue all non-essential proceedings for at least two weeks. Other proceedings may be conducted remotely or by telephonic means. Trials that can’t be continued will have access to the Courtroom scrutinized for the safety of those within it and will be determined by the assigned Judge.

CLERK OF COURTS – Public Counter is open. However, it is encouraged that e-file for civil entries be used as well as the online dockets.  Exercise social distancing and recommended proximities when conducting necessary business.

COUNTY COURTS – (Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, and Sebring)

Have suspended all hearings and arraignments with the exception of those involving prisoner cases and felonies for the next three (3) weeks.

Scheduled hearings before Judges except with prisoner cases and felonies will be rescheduled.

Jurors scheduled for March 24, 2020, in CC#5 and on April 6, 2020, in CC#3 shall not appear. These trials shall be continued and rescheduled for another date.

MAHONING COUNTY ADMINISTRATION BUILDING – Open. Access to be scrutinized by security with health screening questions being utilized when necessary.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ OFFICE - The public counters in the Commissioner’s Office and Purchasing are open for necessary business only. Exercise social distancing and proximities when visiting.

TAX MAP OFFICE - Public Counter is open holding regular and telephone hours. The office has staggered its staff and is asking for proximity limitations at the Counter.

PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE – Criminal and Civil offices are closed to the public. Essential services and staffing have been identified and staggering of in-office personnel is being implemented in conjunction with remote and telephonic work as recommended by the State and the CDC.

JUVENILE JUSTICE CENTER – Is primarily closed to the public with exceptions:

The lobby at the Juvenile Court is closed to the public with the exception of proceedings deemed necessary by the Court.

All civil and criminal trials are being converted to pre-trial hearings to be conducted at the date and time as scheduled for trial via telephone conference between the attorneys for the parties and Court. The Court shall initiate the telephonic pre-trial calls.

The Court will continue to hear cases involving civil protection orders, ex parte, shelter care, civil stalking orders, abuse, neglect, and dependency.

All specialty dockets hearings shall be continued unless deemed upon a case-by-case basis to be necessary.

All visitation to students detained in the Juvenile Justice Center is suspended until further notice to ensure the health and wellbeing of the students under the County’s care and control.

OAKHILL RENAISSANCE PLACE – Is open to the public.

JOB AND FAMILY SERVICES and CHILD SUPPORT – No public access to the lobbies and public areas. Public Counters for JFS will be closed effective Wednesday, March 18th. Phone applications will continue to be taken. Genetic Testing is canceled until further notice. Administrative child support hearings will be conducted telephonically. Child support payments can be made using the following methods:

Mailed to: CSPC, PO Box 182372 Columbus, OH 43218

Credit card/debit payments can be accessed through https://OH.SMARTCHILDSUPPORT.COM

By telephone: call the CSPC at 1-888-965-2676 and choose option 5.

CORONER’S OFFICE – Office is open for necessary public safety matters. Call with questions.

TITLE DEPARTMENT – Public counter is open. Exercise social distancing and recommended proximities when conducting necessary business.

BOARD OF ELECTIONS – Public counter is open. Governor DeWine’s request for Ohio’s primary election to be postponed until June 2nd was rejected by a Judge. Contact Mahoning County Board of Elections for additional information or check their website at https://vote.mahoningcountyoh.gov.

VETERANS’ SERVICES – Office is open. Department is asking for veterans who are not feeling well to reschedule their appointments.

SOLID WASTE/RECYCLING – Office is open however the public is asked to refrain from visiting and to call with any questions.

MAHONING COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER – The lobby of the Justice Center is closed to the public until further notice.

Inmate visitation is suspended until further notice with the exception of the clergy, attorneys and video visitation.

Records Department non-court ordered functions will be suspended until further notice.

Mission-critical contractors and visiting attorneys are permitted access but will have to submit to health screenings upon entry.

The conceal-carry program is closed.

All volunteer programs are suspended indefinitely.

SANITARY ENGINEER’S DEPARTMENT – Public counter is open. Exercise social distancing and recommended proximities when conducting necessary business.

MAHONING COUNTY ENGINEER’S DEPARTMENT – The office is closed to the public. However, checks will be accepted through the breezeway window. Permits can be requested online.

DOG WARDEN’S OFFICE – Lobby is open for licensing and fees payment 8-4:30 Mon-Friday. Late hours on Wednesday and Saturday are suspended until further notice. Stray reporting and retrieval continue as well as dropping off of strays in the rear entrance. Adoption forms are available online and all adoption meet and greets are by appointment only until further notice.

BUILDING INSPECTION DEPARTMENT – Public counter is open. Exercise social distancing and recommended proximities when conducting necessary business.

MAHONING COUNTY CHILDRENS SERVICES BOARD - The Mahoning County Children Services Board will continue to provide protective services to the public during this unprecedented outbreak of the COVID-19 virus. Continue to report any suspicions of child abuse or neglect to our report line at 330-941-8888. However, to protect the public's health and slow the rate of transmission of COVID-19, some services we provide to families may be postponed or modified. If you have a scheduled event or activity with Children Services, such as a family visitation, case review meeting, or other appointments, call your caseworker or our general information line at 330-941-8888 to determine whether there have been any changes. At this time, the Children Services building will be open to the public. Those seeking entrance will be subject to a COVID-19 screening procedure and entrance may be denied dependent upon the results.”

BOARD OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES - Leonard Kirtz School is closed for three weeks. Board and Community Services offices, as well as The Centre at Javit, remain open for employees and clients. All questions regarding closures or services should be directed to the DD Board office.

MAHONING COUNTY TRAINING ASSOCIATION – Offices will be closing to the public as of Tuesday, March 17th through Sunday, April 5th. All MCTA offices and the Mahoning and Columbiana County OhioMeansJobs (One-Stop) centers, including the Oak Hill satellite will be closed. Staff will be on hand to answer phones and assist clients. The public is urged to visit www.onestopohio.org for employment postings and additional resources.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY – Office is open to the public for necessary business. Contact Dennis O’Hara by phone with questions pertaining to the County’s response to COVID-19.