On June 8, the Government Services Building, 721 Main St. N, Mantorville reopens to the public for Driver’s License and vital records and a high demand for driver’s licenses services is anticipated. However, you may be able to avoid the lines altogether by renewing online or by postponing your visit.

On May 27, Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill waiving the requirements for a vision screening test and a current photo to renew your expired standard Minnesota driver’s license or ID if you meet certain conditions. This allows you to renew or replace your standard driver’s license or state ID card online.

The conditions are, if you have not changed your name, address, signature, or driver’s license number and your standard license has been expired for less than one year, you qualify for this special dispensation.

It only lasts until June 30, 2021. If you apply after that date, you will have to have a new photo taken and have your vision tested.

Go to drive.mn.gov and click on the link “Apply for a Driver’s License or State ID” to renew this way.

Remember, if your license expired since March 12 or will expire before July 31, an automatic extension was granted until Aug. 31 for those license expiration dates. According to the Driver and Vehicle Services website, that extension includes ID cards, instruction permits, (including commercial learner’s permits) provisional licenses, operator’s permits, limited licenses, farm-work licenses, and disability parking placards.

If you do decide to come in, Ryan DeCook, Land Records Director notes, “We are asking that only customers with name or address changes and/or expired licenses visit at this time. A limited number of customers are allowed in the building at one time due to COVID restrictions. Driver’s license customers who are in the building by 2 p.m. will receive service. Our building hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you are in need of another service, please contact the appropriate department to set up an appointment.”

Also, for REAL ID’s or enhanced drivers’ licenses or ID cards; the U.S. Department of Homeland Security authorized the extension of the deadline for people to acquire those documents a full year to Oct. 1, 2021.

To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, visitors should not enter a County facility if they have had any symptoms of COVID-19 in the last seven days OR if they have had close contact with someone who was diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19 within the last 14 days. Additionally, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly encourage everyone visiting our facilities to wear an appropriate mask to cover the nose and mouth. We request that you put on the face covering before coming up to the building.

In the building, shields have been erected between employees and customers and social distance spacing is marked on the floors so those waiting in line can stay separated.