Changes to Rice County Services

Assessor’s Office

MEETING CANCELLATIONS Local Boards of Review and Equalization (LBAE) and Scheduled Open Book Meeting

Recently Rice County Taxpayers received Valuation Notices for 2020 values for taxes payable in 2021. These notices informed taxpayers of the 2020 valuation and classification of their property. These values and classifications are for 2021 taxes. The Valuation Notice also described a process to appeal your value or classification.

The informal Open Book meetings that were scheduled for April 13^th are now canceled. This does not affect your right to appeal, now simply call the Rice County Assessor’s Office at 507-332-6102.

One township that retained their Local Board of Appeal and Equalization, Forest, has given their meetings to Rice County and those residents simply call the Rice County Assessor’s Office at 507-332-6102.

Governor Walz has declared an emergency under Chapter 12, therefore if the board decided to forego a virtual meeting and proceed with an in-person meeting, the board is required to also allow any board member, county representative, and/or taxpayer to virtually attend the LBAE meeting. Most facilities do not have the technology available for use in the short time before the scheduled meetings.

What can you do?

Call the Rice County Assessor at 507-332-6102

Assessor’s Office Phone: 507-332-6102 Email: Website:

Mailing Address:

Attn: Rice County Assessor’s Office 320 3^rd St NW Suite 4 Faribault, MN 55021

Physical inspection of property for valuation purposes is suspended
Property valuation/classification appeals will be handled by phone and/or email and property inspections will be scheduled at a future date
Applications can be returned via mail, email or by placing in drop box at the Government Services Building

The following services by phone or email:

Valuation/classification questions and appeals
Requests for homestead applications (also available on-line)
Questions regarding special programs
Website information

Human resources

Closed to the public

Rice County current Employment Opportunities

Community Corrections

Phone: 507-332-6106 Email

Lobby/service window closed

Non-essential contact/transportation suspended

Supervision services delivered primarily by phone

Bail evaluations by phone

Cognitive programming suspended

In-house meetings/programming suspended

Payments via online/mail only

Highway Department

Phone: 507-332-6110 Email

Highway Department is closed to the public

All Highway permits, such as Driveway, Utility, Tile line, and Work in Right of Way permit applications are available online, and will be handled through the phone and email;

Recorder’s Office

Erecording will continue as normal but all paper documents will be accepted by mail only or you can drop them off on the south side of the building. Please include a phone number where we can reach you for questions. All paper documents will be mailed back.

We are now accepting passport applications by appointments only. Please see the Recorders page for more information.

Birth, Death and Marriage Certificates – requests for certificates can be made by mailing the application to the Recorder’s Office or dropping them off in the drop off box on the south side of the building. Forms are available on the Rice County website at: www.co.rice.mn.us. Signatures on the birth and death forms must be notarized. Fees can be paid by check or money order. Requests will be processed as we receive them and mailed out on a daily basis.

To apply for a marriage license see “Applying for marriage license during COVID-19” on the Recorders page

Notary filings can be done through the mail. Please contact our office at 507-332-6114.

Ordination filings can be done through the mail. All forms and necessary information is on our website.

Veteran’s Service Office

The Rice County Veteran Service Office is eliminating face to face contact with Veterans and their family members in both the Faribault and Northfield Offices. Due to the high risk nature of our clients to the COVID-19, we have made this decision to ensure the safety of all Veterans in Rice County. Starting immediately, all appointments will be done through telephone as well as corresponding via email.

Please contact Tracy McBroom at 507-332-6117 or Email for any inquiries or more information.

Social Services

Lobby and service windows are closed until further notice.

General Number – (507) 332-6115

From Northfield – (507) 645-4723

From Lonsdale – (507) 744-5185

24 Hour Crisis Line – (800) 422-1286

Fax – (507) 332-6247

Financial Assistance Programs including; Health Care, Food Assistance, MFIP, Cash, Childcare – (507) 332-5995 or email us at fin_asst@co.rice.mn.us

Social Service programs including Licensing, Developmental Disabilities, Child and Adult Protection, Mental Health, Long-Term Care Assessments (MnChoices) – (507) 333-3773 or Email

Providers can send billing statements to Email

Public Health

Rice County Public Health will continue to provide essential services. This includes immunizations, STI testing, TB services, and assurance of essential services for those placed in isolation or quarantine for an infectious disease by MDH. Please call to schedule appointments or for more information: 507.332.6111

WIC services will be provided by phone. Please call 507.332.5906 for WIC

Family planning enrollments by phone. Please call 507.332.6111

Essential home care services will continue. Contact your nurse directly or call 507.332.6111 for questions.

Other services via phone/vidyo as able.

Housing/HRA

The News about the Coronavirus and the risks it poses for those who become infected is concerning to us all. During this challenging time, maintaining the health of our clients and staff is our number one priority at Rice County Housing. To help reduce the potential transmission of Coronavirus we ask that you avoid coming into our office. The Housing office will remain open, but effective immediately:

All in-person appointments are suspended until further notice.

Staff will contact existing appointments to cancel in-person appointment and to request return of documents by mail, fax, or email.

Mailings will include a return checklist as a reminder of all the documents needed and will also encourage participants to return via email, mail, or fax to limit contact.

Participants may request an in-person appointment if needed.

All annual inspections will be canceled.

Inspections for participants moving to a new unit and/or entering our program for the first time will continue. These are needed in order to begin housing assistance.

All re-inspections will be completed via self-certification.

If you have questions, you can contact Rice County Housing at:

Telephone: (507) 333-3787

Fax: (507)333-3838

Email:

The CARES Act allows for alternative approaches to various aspects of HRA operations. Click here to see which waivers the HRA has implemented and their effective dates.

COVID-19 Rice County Waivers

Sheriff’s office

By order of Rice County Sheriff Troy Dunn, effective March 19, 2020 at 7:30 am, access to the Rice County Courthouse will be restricted. The courthouse is not being closed.

Only essential staff, officers of the courts and people with scheduled court hearings will be allowed into the Courthouse. This would include employees of Court Administration, Judges and staff, along with employees of the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, Attorney’s Office, Rice County Probation, Rice County Social Services, Public Health, attorneys, public defender and victim advocates. No other members of the public will be allowed into the courthouse until deemed safe to do so by the order of the Sheriff. This is due to the CORVID-19 pandemic.

Staff in both Court Administration and the Rice County Attorney’s office can still assist you by phone by calling 507-332-6100 between 8:00 am and 4:30 pm. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.