T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Julie Selmon, Monroe County Common Pleas Court judge, left, discusses reopening the courthouse to the public during Monday’s Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting in Woodsfield. Also pictured is Commissioner Tim Price.

WOODSFIELD — The Monroe County Courthouse will continue to limit access to the public amid the coronavirus pandemic as officials await recommendations from the county’s health department.

The Monroe County Board of Commissioners met with Monroe County Common Pleas Judge Julie R. Selmon on Monday to discuss the possibility of reopening the courthouse in the coming weeks.

The courthouse began limiting access to the public in March as a safety precaution to limit unnecessary foot traffic. A camera and door buzzer are stationed on the courthouse’s exterior door if someone would need to gain access.

Selmon began the discussion with Commissioners Mick Schumacher, Carl Davis and Tim Price, speaking in favor of reopening the building.

“I have a hard time keeping the building completely closed when the (Ohio Valley) mall is open,” she said.

Selmon suggested contacting the Monroe County Health Department to get input and officials’ recommendation on the reopening.

“I think you (commissioners) should contact the health department to see if they would recommend any special screenings for people entering the building,” she said.

She said she believes steps should be taken soon to reopen the building but with restrictions in place, such as taking individuals’ temperatures or only letting in people who need to conduct business in the building.

“I think we have to take some kind of steps soon to open the building, maybe with restrictions or you have to have a legitimate business purpose — you can’t just come in to use the restroom. I think we need to ask for recommendations from the health department,” she said.

Davis said that the courthouse has not been completely closed to the public and has continued to allow access to those who need to conduct business.

“Nobody has been refused entrance if they needed in (to the courthouse),” he said.

When discussing the potential restrictions to put on those wanting to enter the courthouse, Selmon acknowledged the spike in positive COVID-19 cases over the past week in the county.

“I don’t know, but I think a lot of them (positive cases) are coming from the care facilities,” she said.

The Stellar Care Center issued a statement via Facebook after a number of its staff and residents tested positive for the virus last week.

As of Monday, the county has a total of 57 positive cases, one probable case, two deaths and seven recovered.

It is unclear how many of the cases stem from the care facility in Woodsfield.

The health department declined to say how many of the cases are connected to the center, and facility owner Bryan Casey did not return calls seeking comment Monday.

Davis said the commissioners would inquire about the matter with the health department to get its recommendation on what the next steps in the reopening should entail.

The courthouse should be open no later than June, Selmon suggested.

Following the meeting with Selmon, commissioners contacted county health department Administrator Linda Masters for “guidance” from the department regarding the matter.

“We’re not necessarily asking for an answer or recommendation today,” Davis said to Masters via teleconference.

He asked Masters to discuss the matter with fellow health department officials to come up with a reopening plan for the courthouse.

Masters said they would take the matter into consideration and return their recommendation to commissioners in the next couple of weeks.

In other news, commissioners made a motion to close the courthouse on Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

The commissioners will next meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the courthouse.