By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will wait another week to decide on the temporary home for law enforcement and courthouse staff during the upcoming remodeling project.

The county is considering the former PATH Lab on 13th street and the Hadley Center.

Thomas More Prep-Marian has taken over the third floor of the Hadley Center for its girls residential program — one of the floors the county had planned to occupy during the reconstruction.

The commission is also waiting on cost estimates for some remodeling that would be required at the PATH Lab.

At Monday night’s commission meeting, Commissioner Barb Wasinger called for updated numbers on the price of building two courtrooms and getting the facility ready for staff.

Wasinger also asked for feedback from staff on the potential office space but added, “I know that neither one is going to be perfect. This is called short-term housing, rental housing, so we have to treat it as such.”

Commissioner Dean Haselhorst asked for a time frame for reconstruction at the PATH Lab because he said he is worried they would have to wait for the building to be ready. He also said one of the positives he sees in the Hadley Center is it is ready to house staff right now.

Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund said time is running out for a decision so thee county will not be forced to delay the courthouse/jail renovation project.

The commission is expected to vote on the temporary office space at next Monday’s meeting.