PC Courthouse extends closure, Gov. Bullock issues new Directives during COVID-19 pandemic

The Phillips County Commissioners office announced Tuesday night that the Phillips County Courthouse will be closed to the public until further notice as a precaution to the COVID-19 virus outbreak.

A press release from their office states people needing to conduct County business take the following steps.

please call or email the following departments and they will respond as soon as possible:

Treasurer – 654-1742 or [email protected]

Clerk & Recorder –654-2423 or [email protected]

Clerk of Court – 654-1023 or [email protected]

Superintendent of Schools – 654-2010 or [email protected]

If you would like to renew your vehicle registration please visit the state website at https://app.mt.gov/vrr or call the Treasurer’s Office at 654-1742.

To request a birth or death certificate, please call the Clerk & Recorders office at 654-2423 for an application.

If you need to apply for a marriage license please visit https://app.mt.gov/marriage or call the Clerk of Court at 654-1023.

As of Tuesday night, March 31, there are no confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus in Phillips County. Statewide in Montana, the total cases of COVID-19 virus infections had climbed from 184 total cases resulting in one death at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning to 208 cases and five deaths by 4:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. (montana.maps.arcgis.com.) There have been a total of 4,558 COVID-19 tests completed (147 on Tuesday) and a total of 15 hospitalizations.

Montana Governor Steve Bullock, who has issued both a State of Emergency and Stay at Home Directive directives in the past four weeks, announced another Directive on Tuesday night which states “allows Montana hospitals and related facilities to receive financing to remain open and acquire the supplies needed to respond to COVID-19.”

“For weeks both urban and rural hospitals have served on the frontlines of this crisis and they need our support to continue protecting Montanans,” Gov. Bullock said. “Today’s Directive offers resources to keep hospital doors open, purchase supplies, and will ensure health care workers provide lifesaving care across the state.”

Governor Bullock’s Directive will allow health care, medical, and related facilities to receive financing under the Montana Facility Finance Authority Act for operating expenses connected to COVID-19, the press release states. The Directive will allow facilities to receive immediate financial support to continue operating during the emergency.

Another Directive announced by Gov. Bullock focuses on consumer protection to lessen financial hardships on Montanans during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. The Directive temporarily stops evictions, foreclosures, and cancellation of utility services including water, heating and internet service.

“One of my top priorities is continuing to find ways to ease the financial hardships on Montanans. So long as this virus forces Montanans to stay home to save lives, Montanans need a home to stay in,” Gov. Bullock said. “This order ensures that a loss of income won’t lead to Montanans losing their homes or having the heat turned off if they can’t pay the rent or make their monthly utility bill.”

For the duration of the Directive, landlords are prohibited from terminating a lease or refusing to renew or extend the terms of a current lease agreement, at least on a month-to-month basis. It also prohibits late fees or other penalties due to late or nonpayment of rent, prohibits rent increases except for those previously agreed upon and prohibits landlords from seeking damages in court due to nonpayment of rent.

The Directive also stops involuntary sales of homes, foreclosures, liens placed on residential properties or late fees charged due to the inability to pay mortgage payments on time for the duration of the Directive.

The Directive does not relieve tenants from paying rent or borrowers from paying mortgages or other financial obligations related to homeownership.