By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Ellis County is in search of parking spaces at the 718 Main Administrative Center.

During the construction process, the lack of parking spots was brought up as a potential problem and, now that the offices have moved, the issue has come to fruition.

There are 92 spots available in the two parking lots owned by the county and nine spots in the Commerce Bank parking lot.

According to Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund, there are 43 county employees; 42 people who work for Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball; and two employed with AFLAC who work at the 718 Main building.

Those, plus the five spots needed for county vehicles, bring the total to 92.

Sund also recommends reserving 10 to 15 spots for the public and customers.

He told the county commission Monday night the staff has looked at a number of options to relieve the situation.

One option would be to have county employees park in the lot east of Gutch’s, although the owner asked the county upgrade the lot in order to park there.

Engineer Buck Driggs estimated it would cost approximately $80,000 to pave the lot.

Sund also said they plan to talk with the owner of Toby Jugs about possibly using that lot for employee parking.

But as the county searches for answers, Sund said they do not current have the funds to upgrade any parking lot, and the commission will have to budget for that expense in the future.

The commission will continue its discussion on the issue at next Monday’s meeting.