Update: Tuolumne County Government COVID-19 Service Changes
Update at 6:15 p.m.: Tuolumne CountyGovernment is making further changes to its operations. The latest department office closures to the public including the District Attorney’s office.
Board of Supervisor Chair Sherri Brennan offered this statement to the public regarding the closures, “Tuolumne County wants to the best of our ability to protect the health and safety of both our employees and the public at large. For those reasons we are instituting the following procedures and protocols.”
Below is the release from the county outlining all the current changes:
March 20, 2020
In response to the Governor’s March 19th executive order, which included a statewide “stay at home” order, Tuolumne County is making reductions to non-essential services to limit the potential exposure for staff and the public to COVID-19. These changes will go into full effect Monday, March 23, 2020.
As always, Public Safety will continue to be a top priority as we work through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Safety
The operations of the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office will continue without any significant changes.
Tuolumne County Fire Department will also continue as normal with the only change being no public access to the Striker Court facility. For non-emergency phone contact, the public can call 209.533.5118.
The Health and Human Services Agency, which includes the Department of Social Service, Behavioral Health, and Public Health will continue with no significant changes. 209.533.5717
The lobby at the Tuolumne County Probation Department will be closed to the public to limit unnecessary contact. The office is staffed and will be responding as needed. Appointments will be prearranged and referrals from the Court will be seen. If you need to speak with someone or have a specific question, please call 209.533.7500 and immediately press “0”.
The Tuolumne County District Attorney’s Office and Victim Witness Office are closed to the public, but staff is continuing to work and is available by phone.
District Attorney’s Office: 209.588.5450
Victim Witness: 209.588.5440
The Tuolumne County Public Defender’s Office will also continue to provide service and their office will be open to the public. We do ask that you call to make an appointment 209.533.6370
Tuolumne County Animal Control services will continue; however, their lobby will be closed to the public. Appointments can still be made by calling 209.694.2730.
Public Works
The Tuolumne County Public Works Department offices will be closed to the public but staff will be available by phone or email (full staff directory is available on the County website https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/Directory)
Roads/Fleet and Engineering: 209.533.5601
GIS: 209.533.5629
Surveying: 209.533.5626
Solid Waste: 209.533.5588
Airports: 209.533.5685
Community Development Department
The A.N. Francisco Building will be closed to the public. Applicants will be notified of approved Building, Environmental Health, and Land Use permits. Applicants will be contacted to make an appointment for pick up.
For the week of March 23, plan submittal is suspended for land use, Building, and Environmental Health. Check the Community Development website for updates on the process for plan submittal in the future.
Environmental Health and Building inspections that are deemed essential, will continue as long as social distancing can be maintained and applicants on site do not exhibit signs of illness.
To contact us, call 209.533.5637 to reach the Community Development Department front counter. If no one answers, please leave a message and someone will contact you as soon as possible.
For environmental health emergencies, call 209.533.5665. For building emergencies, call 209.533.5637. Inquiries can also be submitted via email at communityresources@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov
General Administration:
All of the offices, which are listed below, located within the Administration Building at 2 South Green Street will continue to operate with only essential staff. However, the building will only be open to the public between the hours of 9:00 am and 12: 00 pm. Outside of those hours, staff will be available by phone.
- County Administrators Office/Office of Emergency Services: 209.533.5511
- Recorder: 209.533.5531
- Assessor’s Office: 209.533.5535
- County Auditor: 209.533.5551
- County Clerk: 209.533.5573
- Elections: 209.533.5570
- Treasure Tax Collector: 209.533.5544
- Office of Revenue Recovery: 209.533.5920
- Human Resources: 209.533.5566
- County Counsel: 209.533.5517
- Board of Supervisors: 209.533.5521
- Office of Business Assistance and Innovation: 209.288.4030
Other Services
Tuolumne County Agriculture Weights and Measures offices will be closed to the public. Staff can be contacted by phone at 209.533.5691 between the hours of 8:00am and 1:00pm.
Air Pollution Control will continue to operate; however, the office will be closed to the public. Staff will be available by phone between the hours of 8:00am and 1:00pm at 209.533.5693.
Non-essential Services
- The Tuolumne County Archives will be closed to the public until further notice.
- All Tuolumne County Libraries are closed until further notice
- All recreation programs are canceled until further notice.
- Tuolumne County Youth Centers and Community Halls are also closed until further notice.
- Tuolumne County Museum is closed until further notice
Original post at 3:45 p.m.: Sonora, CA – With the governor’s order to stay at home due to COVID 19, the county is updating its operating procedures to comply with some of those changes including court appearances, jury duty, libraries, and the county clerk’s office.
Court:
Regarding the Tuolumne County Superior Court, officials relay that court locations will remain open and that persons who have court appearances or other business with the court, such as filing legal papers, are not subject to the governor’s order.
The court will be implementing these preventative actions to minimize public interaction during the coronavirus pandemic:
Court Preventative Actions:
1. The Court requested an Emergency Order from the Chief Justice of the California Supreme
Court allowing it to take emergency steps from 3/23/20 until 4/22/20. In the request, the
Court sought authority for actions that may be implemented in the future, if necessary, and
for actions to be taken immediately. Below are the actions the Court will take immediately.
2. Beginning 3/23/20 and until 4/22/20, all jury trials will be rescheduled and persons
summoned for those trials do not need to report for jury duty. The Court will be notifying
persons summoned that they do not have to report for jury duty.
3. On a case-by-case basis, for uncontested court cases where possible, the Court will continue
the matters to a date past 4/22/20.
4. For all court cases that need to proceed, where possible the Court will do the following:
a. Allow persons to appear for court cases telephonically using CourtCall.
b. Allow only 25 persons in the Courtroom at any time, all other persons will be sent to
another Courtroom for the matter to be heard or asked to return at a later time.
5. Beginning 3/19/20, the Court’s civil counter at the Historic Courthouse at 41 W. Yaney Ave.,
Sonora, will be closed to the public and all persons needing to do civil filings will be directed
to use the civil drop box or go to the criminal counter at the Court’s building located at 60 N.
Washington Street, Sonora. The criminal counter at our Washington Street location has a
window and intercom system which protects both the public and the staff from possible
coronavirus exposure. Persons needing civil forms for divorce, small claims and other civil
matters may pick those up at the first floor of the Historic Courthouse where a table in the
public lobby has the forms available for the public.
6. Beginning immediately, the Self Help Center will be physically closed to the public and all
persons needing self-help assistance will be directed to call the Self Help number to receive
assistance by phone.
7. Beginning immediately, the Court will stop providing mediation services in person. Instead,
persons will be provided mediation services by phone, video or online.
8. Beginning immediately, guardianship and conservatorship interviews and/or investigations
will be rescheduled and/or done via video/Skype/phone alternatives.
9. Beginning immediately, for all non-mandatory appearance citations, like traffic tickets, where
the defendant requests to appear, appearance dates will be set 90 days out.
Libraries:
County Library officials have announced the closure of all branches. In addition, all late charges for materials will be waived. They remind that the digital library is always open, click here.
County Clerk/Elections:
The County Clerk and Auditor-Controller Office will be closing for in-person services on Monday, March 23rd. Mandatory essential services will be provided only by mail and or online. Any services below not listed in the guidelines provided by the clerk’s office are not available at this time:
County Clerk:
Fictitious Business Names filings and renewals by mail
Elections:
• Voters may update their registration online at https://registertovote.ca.gov/
• Election results are available online at https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/elections
Phone, mail and E-mail assistance contact:
County Clerk & Auditor phone and e-mail information services will remain available:
Auditor-Controller 209 533 5551 auditor-controller@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov
County Clerk Elections 209 533 5573 or 209 533 5570
elections@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov
