Getting by in temporary offices

Getting by in temporary offices

County officials and employees are getting by in their

temporary quarters one year after the Morgan County Courthouse fire.

All of the county services were up and running as of two days after the courthouse fire, said Commission President Glen Stotler. Being housed in a temporary structure isn't ideal, but they have adequate space to do what they need to do, said Stotler.

"It's a little snug, but it's working," he said.

The tightest spot was the County Assessor's office and the Sheriff's Law Office where the ambulance fee and the fire taxes are collected, said Commissioner Tommy Swaim.

"I think we're coping really well," he said.

The county was indebted to former Commissioner Bob Ford,

who had the connection to the doublewide trailers acquired for

the county offices, said Swaim. They also owed a lot to Louise

and Debbie Stotler for allowing them to locate the trailers on the

lot.

"I don't know what we would have done," said Swaim.

Morgan County Schools also gave the prosecuting attorney space in the building next to the board office and the Morgan County Rescue Squad took in the Sheriff's Department, he said.

Commissioner Brenda Hutchinson felt they'd done a really good job of getting things organized after the fire. Some shelving would help in the Circuit Clerk and Assessor's Office trailer, said Hutchinson. They needed to get their copier going, but it was just worn out and not fire-related, she said. Hutchinson didn't want to put money into anything temporary.

"It's as good as it will get until we get a new building," she said of their quarters.