MDC's Ozark Regional Office to re-open July 13

WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Re-opening the Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) Ozark Regional Office has been a priority for MDC staff from the moment the facility closed its doors in March.

That time has finally arrived. On July 13, MDC’s Ozark Regional Office will re-open to the public, ending a closure caused by coronavirus concerns that began March 23. This closure was a precautionary measure and was not due to any documentation of COVID-19 being found at the West Plains office.

Commencing with its re-opening, MDC’s Ozark Regional Office at 551 Joe Jones Boulevard in West Plains will be open 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. As is the case with many other re-openings, the Ozark Regional Office’s transition back to normalcy will be gradual. For the present, the number of visitors in the Ozark Regional Office’s lobby will be limited to one family.

“We sincerely appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we transition back into more of a normal status of providing customer service,” said MDC Ozark Regional Administrator Sarah Medlock. “As we navigate through these uncertain times, we are being mindful of the safety of the public and our MDC staff. We will continue to monitor data from the Department of Health and Senior Services and follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control) guidelines and make adjustments as needed.”

MDC educational Discovery Trunks will be available for check-out at the Ozark Regional Office to any teacher, homeschool parent, or guardian. A three-day sanitization period is required between a trunk’s check-in and its next check-out. In addition, staff at MDC facilities across the state are holding virtual programs. A listing of these programs can be found at mdc.mo.gov/regions. For more information about MDC’s Ozark Regional Office, call 417-256-7161.