At the Dec. 22 meeting of the Ellsworth County Commission, Jessica Kootz of the Midway Extension District had several questions regarding the courthouse renovation project.

Kootz said after talking to several entities in the courthouse, Midway District officials understand the commissioners want the district out of the building. She asked if that is the case, why is the county spending so much money to renovate the space now occupied by the Midway District. Kootz noted the Register of Deeds doesn’t want to move into that space. She also said the latest drawings of the space indicate it won’t fit their needs.

“Why all of this if it’s not even going to work,” Kootz asked.

Commissioner Shawn Thomas said the entire renovation was discussed with the county department heads.

“They (Register of Deeds) have never made that indication to us,” he said. “If there are back channel conversations, that has not been brought to our attention until 30 seconds ago, so that I cannot answer. When we had all of the department heads in here when we started this two years ago, they (Register of Deeds) were one that mentioned the footprint aspect of it.”

Thomas said there is nothing that has been etched in stone yet.

“We have not begun to phase of anything yet,” he said.

Thomas also said a contractor hasn’t been chosen yet, nor have commissioners signed off on final plans yet.

“We’re still in the exploratory stage of the footprint and what each department head and elected official needs,” he said. “And out of the building, no. We’ve never said out of the building.”

Kootz said the architects that Clinton Laflin, who at that time was the Midway District’s interim director, sat down with on Dec. 8 told him they were gong to start construction in six months.

“But we’ve also heard after the first of the year,” Kootz said. “We’re trying to figure out when we need to be out. We’re looking for spaces to rent because the Register of Deeds office (space) will not accommodate us.”

Thomas replied in the affirmative when asked by Kootz if the county would work with the Midway District in the matter.

“It’s hard to come up with something that is etched in stone when we don’t know yet,” Thomas said.

Thomas said the most time-consuming aspect of the construction is going to be an enclosed corridor linking the courthouse with the sheriff ’s office.

“I can understand your frustration and concern,”

See SPACE Page A3.

“We’re trying to figure out when we need to be out. We’re looking for spaces to rent because the Register of Deeds office (space) will no accommodate us.”

Jessica Kootz

Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, K-State Research and Extension