PARKERSBURG — Wood County officials are looking at the possibility of setting up a drive through facility to handle a number of the regular business transactions that people have had to come down to the Wood County Courthouse to do.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread nationwide, county officials are making plans to keep local government services available while cutting down on potential person to person contact. One of the ways the virus spreads is through close proximity of people.

“It is becoming more clear that business could be suspended, but there are so many parts to our business that keeps on going,” Wood County Commission President Blair Couch said.

On Friday, Couch, Wood County Administrator Marty Seufer, Wood County Clerk Mark Rhodes, Wood County Chief Deputy Assessor Andy Hartleben and IT Systems/Network Administrator Chris Whittaker toured a local former banking facility, with drive-thru lanes, within the city limits of Parkersburg.

Officials want to see if they can set up a temporary facility that would allow people to do a number of tasks that traditionally they had to come into the courthouse to do.

For years, the Wood County Sheriff’s Tax Office had a drive-thru lane where people could come and conduct business from their cars.

“The County Clerk and the Assessor don’t have that option,” Couch said. “This facility may be able to host a variety of services that we can do while maintaining social distancing.”

Although many people are concerned about the next two to three weeks as people begin sheltering at home, Couch said distancing concerns could continue to be in place for the next two to three months, especially for area seniors, as the virus continues to run its course.

“Seniors’ ability to continue to distance is a great concern for all elected officials,” Couch said.

It is hoped that the Assessor, the County Clerk and potentially the Circuit Clerk could conduct business out of this location with a number of services and records that could be made available.

Couch said they would utilize e-mails, faxes and other technology between this location and the courthouse and county offices to get people the needed information and documents to be able to conduct business.

Things like marriage licenses could be issued through such a facility as well as other records available through the Assessor’s office and court filings through the Circuit Clerk’s office.

“We could get to the point where our workers are able to serve the public for as long as possible while social distancing,” Couch said. “Wood County will be stronger for it.”

No timetable has been given on when the location could be up and running, but officials indicated it could be done fairly quickly.

The rent for the facility would be “very reasonable,” Couch said.

Right now, the best resource for people is the county’s website at woodcountywv.com or for people to use their telephones to call the different county offices and ask questions, to see if they need to come in or if there is another way to conduct business that would cut down on face-to-face contact.

“We don’t want to hamper people if they feel it is something they can’t wait on,” Couch said. “We are finding unique ways to conduct these things.”

As the virus spreads and impacts more people, officials are looking for ways to keep the county’s business moving forward.

“We want to help the public while making sure our people are protected,” Couch said.

County officials are drawing up a proposal that will be presented today at the Wood County Commission’s regular meeting.

As the situation is continually changing, Couch said the commission is planning to meet, while practicing social distancing measures.

“We are going to go in (today) and try to conduct business,” he said.

The commission is also expected to pass its 2020-2021 county budget at the same meeting.

Contact Brett Dunlap at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com