By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After accepting a bid for construction on the Ellis County Courthouse/Law Enforcement Center project Tuesday night, Ellis County commissioners continued discussing temporary office space to house staff during construction.

The county had proposed moving staff to another location in an effort to save time and money on the project.

At Tuesday’s commission meeting, Andrew Pitts from Treanor Architects said moving all staff from the courthouse and LEC during construction would cut construction time in half and save “hundreds of thousands of dollars.”

The county recently identified the former N.E.W. call center building as a potential location for temporary office space during the year-long renovation.

But because all departments would share the same space, staff has privacy and ethical concerns.

District Judge Ed Bouker told the commission ethics require judges be not exposed to evidence that might come before them in court.

“It just simply doesn’t look good if we are seated right next to or intermingled with law enforcement and the county attorney and then try a case they are presenting,” Bouker said.

County staff plans to look at a few more possible locations this week.

A second location would allow the county to house court staff and judges in the basement of the Administrative Center at 718 Main while law enforcement and attorney staff are at a separate location.

The commission voted to accept a $7.169 million bid for the courthouse/LEC project from MW Builders of Kansas City.

The bid includes remodeling the courthouse and the LEC first-floor entry and office.