It’s not that El Paso County workers don’t want to talk to the public. It’s that they can’t.

County phone numbers were malfunctioning this morning in various ways.

The Treasurer’s Office phones were ringing without anyone answering.

“The county’s having phone problems, and we’re swamped because we sent out delinquent notices last week,” Treasurer Sandra Damron said.

Assessor Mark Lowderman reported only voice mail problems, and the Clerk and Recorder’s Office didn’t seem to be affected. “We seem to be OK,” said election manager Liz Olson.

In an early-morning e-mail to county offices, the Information Technology Department said the voicemail system was currently unavailable but that workers were trying to restore the system.

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m. Monday: El Paso County’s phone system should be fixed by noon Tuesday. A malfunction over the weekend caused the system to not allow people to leave voice mail messages, although in some offices the phone rang and rang without anyone answering it.

County spokesman Dave Rose said parts needed to fix the problem are to arrive by 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Shoppers walked through Chapel Hills Mall in June. Retail consultant Greg Stoffel said that Kmart’s announcement that it will close its Chapel Hills store may be a blessing because the mall could attract a higher-end anchor store. Photo by JERILEE BENNETT, THE GAZETTE