By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

At some point, the county attorney’s office will move into a courthouse annex building that formerly housed Marion County Extension, but when that will happen is uncertain.

Work to improve office security will be done first.

The extension office vacated its half of the building, south of the courthouse, when it became part of Chisholm Trail Extension District and purchased its own building at 1116 E. Main St.

The county emergency medical department still has its office in the annex building.

County attorney Joel Ensey has pushed to move his office into the vacated space since the extension service moved out, but he wanted better separation between the two offices and better security.

An extension office receptionist formerly greeted visitors as they entered the building’s north door and directed them either down a hall to extension agents’ offices or to the EMS office.

Commissioners earlier asked Ensey to get estimates for adding a window, security doors, wall, and cameras as needed.

The area where the receptionist sat will be divided. When members of the public enter the north side of the building, they will knock on the door of whichever office they want to visit or see in through a window.

A wall with a secure door and window will be installed for Ensey’s area.

Two lock doors will be put in, one for EMS and one for the attorney.

The attorney’s office will move after the wall and security doors are completed.

Final estimates for the work are not complete, but commissioner Randy Dallke said he expects the work will cost between $10,000 to $15,000.

At the end of Monday’s meeting, Dallke expressed remorse about the county having purchased buildings such as one north of US-56 with the intention of using it for the health department without addressing what he considered the real issues the county needs to deal with.

“What we’ve got coming up is trying to keep our employees happy with salaries and wages,” Dallke said.