TOPEKA — Since March 24, extensions to driver’s licenses and vehicle registrations have been made through Executive Order 20-12 signed by Governor Laura Kelly. While those extensions are still valid, the Kansas Department of Revenue started to reopen driver’s license offices on Tuesday.

This includes the Barton County office in the courthouse, room 207, at 1400 Main in Great Bend. The phone number is 620-793-9531.

Under “Ad Astra: A plan to reopen Kansas”, presented at the end of April by Governor Kelly, steps will be made to ensure the health and well-being of all who enter Kansas Department of Revenue offices. This includes requiring appointments and screenings before entering offices and implementing all social distancing guidelines.

“Following the procedures of the Ad Astra Plan and data presented by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, we are making concerted efforts to open in a thoughtful and safe manner,” Secretary Mark Burghart said. 

“This is done by looking at the county COVID-19 case data and applicable guidelines on social distancing to make the necessary decisions to reopen and possibly temporarily reclose offices.”

Only essential services will be conducted in reopened driver’s license offices. These include:

• Drivers needing to transfer a license from another state

• Teen drivers receiving a license for the first time

• Drivers turning 21 or turning 50 years-of-age

• Applications for a new state identification card

• If there is no online access to the customer or other restriction to online service apply by statute, including not having an eye exam within the last 12 months

To schedule an appointment, customers are asked to call their driver’s license office or use the already established scheduling program, Q-Flow, for offices with that availability.