No takers yet for new office space in old beauty shop

It appears no one is jumping for joy at the thought of moving their offices into the former beauty shop building that Red Willow County commissioners bought last year.

In fact, several at the commissioners' meeting Monday morning recommended using the property for parking, and County Attorney Paul Wood told commissioners, "Don't do anything with it. Let 'er sit."

Commission Chairman Earl McNutt said, "Maybe no one's office will move."

McNutt said it made sense for the county to purchase the former beauty shop and the city lot on which it sits when it became available because the courthouse is landlocked, and the property offered options for courthouse expansion or additional office space or parking -- or, according to the latest conjecture, even land upon which the county could build a jail. But before deciding that the building has to be moved or razed, McNutt said, it was also wise to brainstorm possible uses for it.

Chief Probation Officer Lonnie Folchert told commissioners that judges prefer that probation offices be located in the courthouse with the county court and county attorney. County Attorney Wood said extensive remodeling and rewiring for computers would be necessary to move his office into the structure. Veterans service officer Tom Stritt said he does not want to move his office, even if the move were back to the courthouse. "We've moved three times. People can't find us," Stritt said.

County Treasurer Marleen Garcia said her office could reutilize some existing computer space and wouldn't necessarily need Wood's office, which is adjacent to hers in the courthouse, to turn the treasurer's office into a "one-stop" vehicle licensing/titling office -- which, McNutt said, the Legislature may require by 2011. Garcia said that in April, the driver's license camera will move to the examiner's room, freeing up that much counter space in her office.

Sheriff Gene Mahon said it might be possible to locate a small jail at the courthouse, on the beauty shop location, although jail standards would not allow the construction of only a 96-hour holding facility, he said. "We need to seriously start looking into a jail again," Mahon said.

Folchert estimated costs to remodel the beauty shop -- conservatively, he said -- at $25,000 to $35,000, plus additional costs to make the structure handicap accessible. Architect Dave Wilson told commissioners that remodeling could cost $100 per square foot, if not more, to make sure that the building meets all current codes.

Wood said he would hate to have the county invest that much money in the structure, and then decide to raze it or sell it to be moved. "Don't do anything with it," Wood said. "Let 'er sit until you take steps toward one-stop, or a jail."

Folchert said the beauty shop could be used for storage, moving items from the courthouse fourth floor and remodeling that space for offices -- although, he admitted, the elevator doesn't go all the way to the top floor.

McNutt said he tends to agree with Wood, that the better use of the property is not for office space. He said, however, that he wants to keep the lines of communication open too, exploring options for the property.