Scranton Reporter

Lackawanna County issued the following announcement on Nov. 25.

The Lackawanna County Commissioners announced (November 25) new/additional measures to safeguard both the general public and County staff in their attempt to stop the exposure, transmission and spread of the Coronavirus.

The Lackawanna County Government Center will be open to the general public, but by appointment only, as of December 1. The overriding reasons for this action is to limit entrance/foot traffic into the building and, above all, safety/health concerns.

Once again, several of the row offices in the Government Center will be affected by this course of action, but services will continue to be provided as they were when the original shutdown was announced on March 20, 2020.

Drop boxes will be remain in the Government Center’s vestibule for various payments and other transactions.

Residents can pay their 2020 Lackawanna County taxes and the City of Scranton and Scranton School District taxes by using the Single Tax Office box in the vestibule. If an individual wants to pay in cash, the person will be permitted to go to the office without an appointment. Otherwise, they can pay by check via the dropbox or U.S. mail.

The help/reception desk in the vestibule will remain open and active to handle a variety of transactions pertaining to the Clerk of Judicial Records and Register of Wills offices, and multiple other departments. Representatives will be available to provide assistance through various telephones stationed in the vestibule.

Appointments for any department will have to be made ahead of time by contacting the respective office. Only those individuals with an appointment will be allowed to enter the Government Center.

In the Lackawanna County Court system, all jury trials for the month of December will be conducted.

If an individual wants to file a PFA or emergency custody petition, he/she can go the County’s website – www.lackawannacounty.org – and go to Family Court section of the website for instructions on how to proceed. Department staff will not be conducting any business in the Government Center’s lobby/vestibule. All matters must be done online.

It is important for the general public to note that all County departments will still be operating and can be reached by telephone.

Original source can be found here.