HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Now that the move of four county departments are complete, that’s left a lot of empty space in the main part of the Reno County Courthouse. Many who have seen those empty spaces have asked what will become of that empty area?

Commission Chairman Dan Deming admits that’s still up in the air at this point with two construction projects still in the works as part of the bond issue approved by voters to build a new county jail.

But, he says there are ideas being floated around for moving other county departments or personnel into that space. That would include moving the Human Resources Department currently in the basement to that area. County Counselor Joe O’Sullivan has his offices in what was a conference room and Deming says his offices could be moved to that area. The county also hired a county auditor who is in a small office near the Position 1 courtroom and they could move her office to that area.

Then there is a need for some space for the Health Department that could also move into that space as well as an idea Deming himself wants and that is to move some of the offices of the Hutchinson Police and Reno County Sheriff’s office. He admits that idea is very preliminary stages of discussion.

Deming says use of the space and how it would all fit together would be determined by County Administrator Gary Meagher.

The space became available after they completed the renovation of the old jail annex and moved offices of the County Clerk, Appraisers, Register of Deeds and Treasurer to that building.

Meanwhile, the commission will be consider a bid for Compact Construction Services, LLC, of Wichita, for the renovation of the old jail in the Law Enforcement Center for a contract sum of $699,900. That is on the agenda for next week.

The other project underway is work on the ramp for the secure entrance to the courthouse.