The halls of the Erie County Courthouse have been empty in recent weeks, but come June 1, life in county government will begin inching back toward normal.

Sheriff's deputies who handle security are already wearing masks, and hand sanitizing stations have been installed at the entrances of the courthouse and throughout the building.

According to director of administration Gary Lee, about 35% of the county work force will be on the job every day, back in their offices. 

If they face the public though, there will be glass partitions for protection.  Crews were at work installing them on Monday.

Masks will be a must for anyone who enters the building.

The county is looking at systems for checking temperatures too.

The plan is for 34% of the courthouse staff to work on rotating schedules, so work spaces will meet social distance requirements.

The county has found that about 23% of the staff, some 280 employees will continue to work from home. "There are just some particular functions that require that you are here on site at the courthouse," Gary Lee said, "but other functions that you can do remotely, so the department leaders are responsible for determining that mix and making sure that the outcomes are met."

About 100 county employees were furloughed because of COVID-19, most of those at the Erie County Public Library, the rest dotted across the staff.  Lee said the county expects to reopen the library June 1 for staff and people returning items. Curbside service is expected to start June 15.