HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After brief discussion, the Reno County Commission approved the sheriff’s conceptual office layout in the courthouse basement.

The plan is to have most of the Reno County Sheriff’s Office in the basement, with space already assigned to the patrol and detectives divisions.

The final phase of the process was to find space suitable for the sheriff’s administrative offices. The proposed plan is to remodel the area of the basement of the courthouse where the former Human Resources Department was located and utilize the storage area that is being used by the maintenance department.

The project would require extensive remodeling of the current space, but county officials believe it will result in a cost-efficient project, compared to other options.

Sheriff Randy Henderson estimates they will use around 1500 feet, but adds they will have to work around seven pillars in the basement.

The cost estimate is around $30,000 according to the sheriff, although that could be a little low. He hopes to have more solid numbers by the end of this week.

The problem is where to find the money. This is not part of the bond issue for the jail. Commissioners want the work completed this year so the city can work on remodeling the law enforcement center for Hutchinson Police.

Commissioner Dan Deming suggested the possibility of using some money from the Commissioner’s Discretionary Fund for the project. The other commissioners agreed and asked County Administrator Gary Meagher to find money for the project.

The work will be done by county staff, but a few things — including electrical work — would need to be contracted out.

The commission also discussed having another meeting in one of the smaller communities, this time possibly in Nickerson. No exact date was announced, however, they’re looking at sometime in April.