With most of the work completed, the Barton County Attorney’s Office expansion on the courthouse’s fourth floor is taking shape, the County Commission learned Monday morning.

The office contracted with Brentwood Builders to remodel a room on the fourth floor of the courthouse. Under this project, the former-Environmental Management Office was updated to house two newly added staff members and the victim advocate, said Casey Hubbard, office manager and investigator for the office.

Monday, the commission ratified the bid of $17,300 to Brentwood, the only bidder for this project. The money comes from the Capital Improvement Fund. 

All that remains is the installation a pre-hung door. The county is withholding $865 from the payment until this is completed.

“We’re ready to move in at this point,” Hubbard said. 

“It is looking very nice,” Commissioner Jennifer Schartz said.

In the 2017 Barton County Operating Budget, the County Attorney’s Office had been allocated funding for an additional attorney and staff person. In order to accommodate the space requirements of that office, room 401 in the courthouse was remodeled so that it can house the new attorney, a legal secretary and the victim witness coordinator.

This resulted in the Environmental Management Office having to move. 

In November, the commission approved a rental space agreement for the relocated Environmental Management Office. Environmental Manger Judy Goreham found office space at 1910 18th St. in Great Bend. 

The one-year lease through Harper Leasing LLC runs from Nov. 7 through Nov. 6, 2017. 

The actual move-in date for the location, which is three blocks north of the courthouse, was Dec. 1. 

Officials tried to find accommodations for the office in the courthouse, but there was nothing that would have worked for the long term.