By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Discussions are underway regarding possible renovations to the second floor of the Barren County Government Center.
At the Feb. 18 Building and Property Committee meeting, Barren County Deputy Judge-Executive Garland Gilliam said Commonwealth’s Attorney John Gardner and his office were looking to lease the soon-to-be-vacant second floor.
Until recently the Property Valuation Administration occupied a majority of the second floor, which has now moved to the Barren County Development Center. Likewise, the Barren River Drug Task Force will be moving to the development center’s third floor, Gilliam said, which will decrease the amount of renovations needed.
The Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office requested for a door to be installed where the dividing wall between the PVA and the task force currently stands.
“He wants to put a door in that [wall] so he can access [the former PVA office] without going through the lobby,” Gilliam said. “In doing so, that creates another closet and…a huge storage room…about 40-foot long, and we want to divide that so he gets half and the county retains half.”
A quote for $6,500 from JK Construction was presented to the magistrates during the meeting. Gilliam said the renovations would be “100 percent” paid for by the county but the lease the county is pursuing would have the office lease the 4,600 square-foot-space for $1 a square foot.
Barren County Judge-Executive Jamie Bewley Byrd said Frankfort had agreed to the move but did not yet have a physical contract. Because of this, no action was taken by the magistrates despite Jeff Botts’ suggestion they approve it pending the contract so construction can begin.
“I’d rather wait for the contract,” said Magistrate Tim Coomer.
The plan, once the judge-executive’s office move into the courthouse, is to have the Commonwealth’s Attorney on the second floor and the county attorney’s office on the third floor with Child Support possibly occupying the first floor.
“It’s all going to be state offices,” Gilliam said.
