By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County District Court and court staff will begin moving back into their permanent home this week.

Last week, the moving company began moving office equipment from storage back into the courthouse and staff will finish moving office equipment from the former NEW building to the newly renovated courthouse Thursday and Friday.

Ellis County District Court Administrator Phil Fielder said the court system will still hold hearings through Thursday afternoon, but the courts’ calendars have been cleared and will be closed Friday.

The courts will also be closed Monday, Feb. 1, because of the open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The ribbon cutting will be at 10 a.m. with building tours running from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

According to Fielder, the first jury trial in the courthouse is scheduled for Wednesday of next week.

The Hays Police Department and the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department will remain at the former NEW building until the jail is complete.

At last week’s Ellis County Commission meeting, Commission Chairman Dean Haselhorst, who is also serving as the construction liaison, said they had received bids to seal the jail floor. They were also working to install security cameras.