Coronavirus (COVID-19) Info

City Hall & City of Brookings Facilities Information:

Brookings County/Brookings, South Dakota, Brookings County and the City of Brookings have jointly made the decision to close all City and County facilities and offices, as well as County or City-operated businesses and organizations to the public. The intention of this closure is precautionary out of consideration for the safety and health of Brookings County residents.

The closure will take effect Wednesday, March 18th at 12:00 Noon and has now been extended through Wednesday, May 6^th. However, this date is subject to change based on a reevaluation of current circumstances and conditions.

The County and City will continue to operate and provide services to the community. Citizens are being asked to contact departments and offices via phone, email, and by utilizing online services. Visit the county website at www.brookingscountysd.gov, and the city website at  www.cityofbrookings.org for contact information. City of Brookings residents can also utilize Engage Brookings which is available on the City of Brookings website and by mobile app.

Officials are aware that vehicle registration tags may lapse during this time. Area law enforcement will not be actively ticketing for expired tags for the next several weeks to provide citizens with extra time to renew their tags.

The County and City want to thank community members for their understanding and patience during this time as we work through this together. Our primary concern is for the safety and health of Brookings citizens and employees as we continue to monitor the quickly changing aspects of the Coronavirus pandemic.

City of Brookings Department Information:

The City will continue to operate and provide services to the community. As of right now, please contact each department by phone or email to submit applications, make payments, etc. and utilize online services. We are also encouraging the public to use our new Engage Brookings App and website to make requests and to contact departments. It is available through the app stores and by visiting the City of Brookings website. 

This public closure includes the following City Offices/Departments/Locations and Businesses, including all City offices located in the City & County Building located at 520 3^rd Street, The Swiftel Center, and the Brookings Municipal Liquor Store.

The Brookings Public Library

The Brookings Public Library is closed to the public. The Library has also suspended all Library-sponsored programs, classes, and events. The Library has a variety of online services that can be accessed by visiting www.brookingslibrary.org

Contact the Brookings Public Library: (605) 692-9407
Website Link: www.brookingslibrary.org
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/bkglib/

Brookings, Parks, Recreation, & Forestry 

Offices will be closed to the public – the department is available via phone or email.

The Brookings Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department has suspended all recreation activities and has closed all City of Brookings recreation facilities. This includes the Brookings Activity Center, Larson Ice Center, Dakota Nature Park, and other park facilities. The cancellation of activities includes all scheduled youth, adult, and senior programs.

The Brookings Parks and Recreation Department has also suspended activities housed inside district facilities until further notice. This includes open gym and swim at Brookings High School and Court rentals and coed volleyball at 5th Street Gym.

The Brookings Parks and Recreation Department understands the important value playgrounds have to our community. We also take seriously the health of our users. Given the current situation and based on the recommendations from the National Parks & Recreation Association, park playgrounds and basketball courts in the City of Brookings will be posted as temporarily closed effective March 31, 2020, to help promote social distancing as well as limit the transmission of the COVID 19 virus through surface contact. Closed areas will be identified with signage and playground structures will be wrapped with caution tape.

Given the uncertainty of our current situation, the Brookings Park and Recreation Department summer program registration, which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, April 7th, has been postponed until further notice. For information regarding programs offered by other organizations listed within the summer brochure, the department asks individuals to please contact those organizations directly to determine their status. The Park and Recreation Department will continue to monitor and assess the current situation and will reopen summer registration when appropriate. Please watch the City of Brookings website and Brookings Park and Recreation Facebook page for further updates.

Contact the Brookings Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department: (605) 692-2708
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/204/Parks-Recreation-Forestry
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/brookingsparkandrec/

City of Brookings City Clerk’s Office

 Offices will be closed to the public – the department is available via phone or email.

Contact the City Clerk’s Office: (605) 697-8641
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/149/City-Clerk

Brookings Airport

The Brookings Airport offices will be closed to the public – the Airport is available via phone or email. The Airport will still be open and operational.

Contact the Brookings Airport: (605) 697-8664
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/223/Airport

Community Development

Offices will be closed to the public – the department is available via phone or email.

Please continue to submit permit applications electronically. Rental inspections have temporarily been suspended. Code enforcement operations will continue.

Contact the Community Development Office: (605) 692-6629
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/130/Community-Development

Engineering

Offices will be closed to the public – Department will still be issuing building permits, following all codes, performing building inspections, and responding to inquiries. Please continue Engineering Department business via phone or email.

Contact the Brookings Engineering office: (605) 692-6629
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/208/Engineering

Finance Department

Offices closed to the public. The Finance Department will continue operations, including payment of invoices, billing, and W2, 1099 forms. Please contact the Finance Department via phone or email.

Contact the Brookings Finance office: (605) 692-6281
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/200/Finance-Department

Brookings Police Department

Until further notice: Public access to the Brookings Police Department will be restricted - all services are available. The Department is asking for individuals to please call ahead to (605) 692-2113 when possible to see if needs can be handled via phone.

Currently, doors to the Brooking Police Department will remain locked as they are on evenings and weekends. Citizens coming to the PD for police services will first communicate with dispatch over the intercom to determine if their request can be handled via phone call. If so, they will be directed to call the PD and will they will then be connected with an officer.

If the purpose of the citizens’ visit is determined to require face-to-face contact with an officer, dispatch will ask some screening questions. If it is decided that a meeting will move forward, officers will then meet the citizen in the front entryway and either take the report there or bring them into the conference room if needed.

At this time please pay for parking tickets using the drop box for payments made with cash or check by phone, or go online to pay with a credit card.

Contact the Brookings Police Department: (605) 692-2113
For Emergencies: dial 911
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/205/Police-Department
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/Brookings-Police-Department-SD-1006258532765262/

Brookings Fire Department

The Brookings Fire Department offices will be closed to the public. The Brookings Fire Department will continue to operate and to be available for emergency situations.

Contact the Brookings Fire Department: (605) 692-6323
For fire/emergencies: dial 911
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/231/Fire-Department
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/Brookings-Fire-Department-128238337211813/

Brookings Landfill

The Brookings Landfill office will be closed to the public at this time. Curbside Garbage and Recycling Pickup will continue as usual.

The Curbside Spring Cleanup Program will continue while utilizing precautionary safety measures to protect waste collection employees. City-wide, residents can start placing rubbish, debris, and branches on the boulevards in front of their homes beginning April 1st through April 12th. To minimize potential COVID-19 exposure, the City asks that no items be placed on the curb after April 12th to allow time for spring cleanup items to be untouched for a couple of days before being handled by collectors. The COVID-19 virus can live on surfaces for quite some time. For that reason, the City asks that you please refrain from rummaging through items that others have placed out. With the impact to City’s operations, the timeline for pick up may take a little longer than in years past. Also, for the safety of City employees, residents should continue to utilize their green and blue carts for household refuse and recycling, and refrain from placing it with their spring cleanup items.

The Brookings City Landfill is currently closed to the public. Due to the closure, free dumping at the landfill which was originally scheduled to start on April 1st will now begin on April 6th. Individuals who haul their items to the landfill should practice social distancing and refrain from entering the Landfill office. Brookings residents are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the free dumping by hauling as much of their smaller items to the Landfill as possible. This will allow City crews to focus on the removal of the remaining large items. The City thanks residents for their continued cooperation and patience during this time.

The upcoming paint exchange program which was scheduled for Saturday, April 11th has been canceled/postponed until further notice.

Contact the Brookings Landfill: (605) 693-3667
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/254/Landfill

Brookings Municipal Liquor Store 

The Brookings Municipal Liquor Store will be closed to the public during this time.

Note: Local businesses purchase their liquor directly from liquor distributors. This closure will not affect the availability of alcohol to local businesses and eating and drinking establishments.

Contact the Brookings Municipal Liquor Store: (605) 692-5613
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/266/Liquor-Store

Street Department 

Brookings Street Department offices will be closed to the public. However, crews will continue to maintain city streets.

Contact the Brookings Street Department: (605) 692-2016
Website Link: http://cityofbrookings.org/273/Street-Department

The Swiftel Center

The Swiftel Center will be closed to the public during this time. Please visit the Swiftel Center website for more info.

Contact the Swiftel Center: (605) 692-7539
Please visit Website: www.swiftelcenter.com for updates.
Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/swiftelcenter/

FAQ:

Q: Will I still have garbage and recycling service at my home?

A: Yes: City of Brookings Garbage and Recycling collection will continue as usual. The landfill will be closed for dumping.

Q: Will the Liquor Store Be Closing?

A: Yes. All City operated offices, facilities, and businesses will be closing to the public. City offices will still be operating and will be available by phone, email, and www.engagebrookings.com. Visit www.cityofbrookings.org “City Departments.”

Q: What if it snows? Will the streets still be cleared?

A: Yes. All City-operated facilities and offices will be closing to the public. However regular city operations will still be taking place. Contact City offices by phone, email, and www.engagebrookings.com. Visit www.cityofbrookings.org“City Departments.”

Q: What about emergencies? Will the Police Station and Fire Department still be responding?

A: Yes. The Brookings Police Department and Brooking Fire Department are still fully operational all services are available.

Currently, doors to the Brookings Police Department will remain locked as they are on evenings and weekends. Citizens coming to the PD for police services will first communicate with dispatch over the intercom to determine if their request can be handled via phone call. If so, they will be directed to call the PD and will they will then be connected with an officer.

If the purpose of the citizens’ visit is determined to require face-to-face contact with an officer, dispatch will ask some screening questions. If it is decided that a meeting will move forward, officers will then meet the citizen in the front entryway and either take the report there or bring them into the conference room if needed.

City Press Releases/Spotlights Related to COVID-19:

SPOTLIGHT: City Of Brookings Closures & Cancellations

PRESS RELEASE: Brookings City Offices and Facilities to Remain Closed to the Public Until May 6th - Published April 3, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: Park & Recreation Department to Postpone Summer Program Registration - Published April 2, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: City of Brookings to Temporarily Close Park Playgrounds and Basketball Courts - Published March 30, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: Ballot-By-Mail Option for the Combined Municipal/School Board April 14, 2020 Election - Published March 27. 2020

PRESS RELEASE: Brookings Spring Cleanup Curbside Pick-up to Continue with Safety Measures - Published March 27, 2020

SPOTLIGHT: Emergency Ordinance 20-005 At a Glance - Published March 24, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: City of Brookings to Hold Special City Council Meeting for COVID-19 Ordinance - Published March 23, 2020

SPOTLIGHT: COVID-19 | Smart and Safe Shopping and Dining Tips - Published March 20, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: Public Access to Brookings Police Department Restricted. All Services Still Available - Published March 17, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: Brookings County and City to Close Offices and Facilities to the Public - Published March 17, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: Brookings Mayor Keith Corbett Addresses the Brookings Community | Covid-19 Response - Published March 16, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: The City of Brookings Continues to Take Measures to Prevent Coronavirus Spread - Published March 16, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: The Swiftel Center Guest COVID-19 Information - Published March 13, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: City of Brookings Prepares for Coronavirus  - Published March 13, 2020

PRESS RELEASE: South Dakota Prepares for COVID-19  - Published February 28, 2020

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information:

Be Ready Brookings

www.bereadybrookings.com
Be Ready Brookings (BRB) is a preparedness website created by the Brookings County Pandemic Planning and Coordination Committee (PPCC). The PPCC is a partnership of the Brookings Health System, Brookings County Emergency Management, the city of Brookings, the Brookings County Chapter of the Red Cross, 3M, the South Dakota State University, and faith-based/community organizations working with public health agencies.

South Dakota Department of Health

https://doh.sd.gov/news/Coronavirus.aspx
The South Dakota Department of Health (SD-DOH) continues to monitor the emergence of the novel coronavirus.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

www.cdc.gov
Updated Daily: Coronavirus updates, information and news provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

World Health Organization (WHO)

www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
Updated Daily: Coronavirus updates, information and news provided by the World Health Organization.