COVID forces closure of St. Clair County Building. Here’s how to reach key departments

St. Clair County Board Chairman Mark Kern announced that access to the St. Clair County Building will be closed effective Monday due to rising COVID-19 positivity rates.

All essential services the courthouse offers will continue. However, people should contact the office from which they require service or call 618-277-6000 to get directed to the proper office.

Each department will remain operational, although some staff may be working remotely. A COVID-19 Action Plan for each department — with office hours and service options — is posted on St. Clair County’s web page at https://www.co.st clair.il.us/public-notices.

A press release issued by the county did not indicate when the building would re-open.

Here is a list of key county services and who to contact:

County contacts

• Building/electrical permits and inspections: 618-825-2644 or zoning@co.st-clair.il.us.
• Occupancy inspection and permits: 618-825-2532 or zoning@co.st-clair.il.us.
• Board of Review: The office hours will remain 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for phone and e-mailed questions and concerns. The office number is 618-825-2489 and main e-mail address isandrea.johnson@co.st-clair.il.us.
• Recorder of Deeds: If people need a copy of recorded documents (deed, mortgage, release, etc.), they should call 618-825-2481, 618-825-2482, 618-825-2484 or email recorder@co.st-clair.il.us
• Probation: The Probation Office and all court services will remain open during normal business hours and is fully operational. Probation Office business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. All individuals are encouraged to contact their probation officer by phone prior to reporting at 618-277-5690. Facial masks are required for entry.
• Building/electrical permits and inspections: 618-825-2644 or zoning@co.st-clair.il.us
• Occupancy inspection and permits: 618-825-2532 or zoning@co.st-clair.il.us
• Zoning or flood zone: 618-825-2524 or zoning@co.st-clair.il.us
• Code enforcement: 618-825-2644 or zoning@co.st-clair.il.us
• Delinquent property tax redemptions: Mail tax payments to:St. Clair County Clerk, 10 Public Square, Belleville, IL 62220. Acceptable forms of payment are: Cashier’s check, certified funds, or money orders. Please include the parcel number(s) or address.

County clerk contacts

• Vital records: Certified copies records can be requested online at Vitalchek.com through a link on the county’s website, or by calling their toll free number, 888-290-6363. People also can request records by mail. Requests by mail requirements can be found on the St. Clair County Clerk website: countyclerk.co.st-clair.il.us.
• Marriage license application: Couples wishing to apply for a Marriage License can do so by appointment only. Please call 618-825-2708 or email countyclerk@co.st-clair.il.us.
• Birth/death certificates: The county will continue to register new birth and death certificates through the Illinois Vital Record System.
• Voting: If people need to register to vote or change their address on their voters registration, they can go to the Illinois State Board of Election website at www.elections.il.gov/ and click on the “Online Voter Registration” tab. People can email any questions concerning elections to elections@co.st-clair.il.us or call 618-825-2708.

For all other services or questions related to the county cleark, please visit countyclerk.co.st-clair.il.us. Questions may be emailed to countyclerk@co.st-clair.il.us or call 618-825-2708.

COVID numbers in county spiking

St. Clair County’s positivity rate has soared in recent days, staying higher than 20% since Dec. 31. Overall, the rates have been by far the highest for the county since the Illinois Department of Public Health started tracking COVID data in June 2020.

As of Friday afternoon, the county’s positivity rate stood at 27.2%. The positivity rate for Region 4 — which, along with St. Clair County, includes Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph and Washington counties — was at 25.2% as of Friday afternoon, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported.

Additionally, on Friday alone, the county reported 897 new cases and six new deaths.

“We’ve been at this 663 days and this is the highest positivity (rate) in the county that we’ve had the entire time, even going back to the beginning when this was still a mystery to us and the numbers were growing,” Kern said during St. Clair County’s weekly COVID briefing Wednesday. “This variant is just far more contagious. It is here. It is in the community in a big way. Let’s be extra vigilant. We’ve got to get through this.”