The Brown County Website continues to provide updates regarding office staffing during the COVID-19 virus pandemic. We encourage individuals to consult the website for the latest information.

This week we had planned to share some of the new opportunities being implemented at the License Bureau and instead we are having to outline the restrictions that we have had to place on our dealings with the public.

Following Federal guidelines we are limiting the number of people in the License Bureau to 10.

Social distancing is being respected and customers are being asked to wait in a separate room and stand back from the counter while we process their transactions

We have an envelope available for customers to drop-off license tab renewals that can then be picked up the next day or returned by mail.

Driver’s license and REAL ID applications should be started online to reduce the time spent in the License Bureau. Please visit drive.mn.gov.

Effective Wednesday, March 18, ALL written and road tests at the New Ulm location have been cancelled until March 27. State exam staff will only be working at three main state offices: Mankato, Fairmont, and Faribault. Written testing will be conducted at all three locations from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., no appointment is needed. Please check the DPS-DVS website at drive.mn.gov for further information and updates as they are made available.

We strongly encourage individuals to delay their visit to the License Bureau if your license, ID or vehicle registration is not past due or expiring during the month of March.

If you have a health condition that puts you at high-risk but are in need of service, please call the License Bureau at (507) 359-6570 to set up an appointment.

Please know that this information is ever-changing and consulting our website or calling the office would be appropriate before coming to the License Bureau.

We look forward to sharing with you soon all of the new features being introduced at our facility in the near future. For now, please follow the guidelines provided by the CDC and staff safe. We look forward to serving you in the near future!

When social distancing and self-quarantine is over…

• May we never again take for granted: a handshake, a hug with someone, full shelves at the grocery store, or conversations with our neighbors.

• May we not complain of: crowded theaters, the school morning rush, or a stadium roaring with cheers.

• May we be thankful for: a routine check-up, our health, each deep breath we are able to take, and for life itself.

For now, we encourage everyone to be kind to one another . . .