County releases new access information

VW independent/submitted information

Due to the threat of the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus), availability to various Van Wert County offices will be limited, effective Wednesday, March 25, (unless otherwise stated), until Ohio Governor Mike DeWine lifts his declared State of Emergency. Updates regarding these offices are as follows:

Auditor’s Office
Phone: 419.238.0843
Fax: 419.238.1111
Email: deputyauditor@vanwertcounty.org
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Special Instructions: Office is not available for public use.  Please call or email the office for further assistance.

Clerk of Courts Title Department
Phone: 419.238.6989
Email: clerkofcourts@vanwertcounty.org
Office Hours: Wednesday, 9 a.m.-noon, for dealer work.
Special Instructions: Any questions or has an emergency, please call the office.  Someone will be available to answer telephone calls.

Commissioners’ Office
Phone: 419.238.6159
Fax: 419.238.4528
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Special Instructions: All regular business at the Van Wert County Commissioners’ Office will continue as scheduled, but call before stopping in to either take care of questions/business via telephone or schedule a time to come in to the office.

Common Pleas Court, General Division, Adult Probation Department, and Clerk of Courts Legal Division
Common Pleas Phone: 419.238.6935
Common Pleas Email: administrator@vwcommonpleas.org
Clerk of Courts Phone: 419.238.1022
Clerk of Courts Email: clerkofcourts@vanwertcounty.org
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.
Special Instructions: The Court will remain open for any hearings that are scheduled before 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m. on an as-needed basis. All petit jury trials scheduled through May 1 have been continued. The court is attempting to do as much as possible via telephone and video conferencing. The court has reduced staff during this time period, with staff working from home as much as possible. 

Engineers’ Tax Map Office/Regional Planning Commission
Phone: 419.238.3611
Fax: 419.771.1021
Email: vanwertmap@vanwertcountyohio.gov
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Special Instructions: Deeds will be accepted. Call for more detailed information. Limited public access will be allowed, and information will be available upon request. Any questions, call or email.

Job & Family Services
Phone: 419.238.5430
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Special Instructions: Front lobby closed. Call for assistance.

Recorder’s Office
Phone: 419.238.2558
Email: recorder@vanwertcounty.org
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Special Instructions: Office is not available for public use. Documents for recording will still be accepted by mail, eRecording, and drop-off. Call ahead for further instructions, and either call or email the office for further assistance.

Solid Waste Management District
Phone: 419.238.7767
Special Instructions: All recycling services will be postponed until April 6. This includes curbside, the Recycling Center drive-thru drop-off, township drop-off, Allen County drop-off, and commercial services.  The postponement of services will begin March 26 and last until April 6. There may or may not be a re-evaluation at that time to determine further action. Also, as reluctant as everyone is to send recyclables to the landfill, it was determined to be the best course of action in preventing the spread of the virus at this time.  Per the New England Journal of Medicine, the virus can survive on surfaces such as plastic (72 hours) and cardboard (24 hours), which are just a couple of the main types of materials that are handled at the SWMD.  The SWMD apologizes for any inconvenience associated with this postponement and asks for understanding and patience through this difficult time.

Treasurer’s Office
Phone: 419.238.5177
Email: treasurer@vanwertcounty.org
Address: 121 E. Main St., Van Wert, OH 45891
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Special Instructions: Office is not available for public use. Office will be available for county transactions, telephone calls, and daily mail purposes only. Those who need to make a monthly payment should send a check via mail to the office or go to the website: https://vanwertcounty.org/treasurers-office.

Those who need immediate assistance with the Treasury Department, should call between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and noon. Those who need assistance before or after those hours, can leave a voice mail, and staff members will return the call as soon as they can. Call or email the office for further assistance.

Veteran Services Commission
Phone: 419.238.9592
Fax: 419.238.2819
Email: vwvets@vanwertcounty.org
Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-noon
Special Instructions: There will be no in-person appointments until further notice. Any appointments will be handled either over the telephone or by email. This includes claim work, emergency financial assistance, and burial benefits (flag cases, headstone requests, and replacement markers). Any required signatures will be scheduled as to limit exposure. Transportation services are suspended until further notice. Call the office for assistance with fuel vouchers.