County closer to move-in date for admin building

So long as the new county administration building passes its fire equipment inspection, the driver’s license and motor vehicles department is on track to be one of the first to move in to the renovated office space, city officials announced during the July 12 board of supervisors meeting.

Jasper County Maintenance Director Adam Sparks said the fire equipment was being installed in the new building on July 12. If all goes as planned, Sparks said the fire inspection should take place Friday. Provided the building is up to fire code, Sparks said staff could probably move in starting July 18.

“So I’m kind of up in the air, but as of right now we’re going to plan on moving Monday and kind of probably start with (driver’s license and motor vehicles) and public health and just go from there,” Sparks said. “If it changes on Friday, I will send out an email and let everybody know. But that’s the plan right now.”

Jasper County Treasurer Doug Bishop commended Sparks and county information technology director Ryan Eaton for working “their tails off” trying to coordinate the project. Bishop said in the beginning the driver’s license and motor vehicle departments, which he oversees, were going to be last to move in.

“Now we’re going to be first,” Bishop said. “But we have everything we have to coordinate with the DOT, and we’re also sending out tax statements the first part of August. So if we don’t have that new address and new location on there, it’s going to create issues all the way down … We’ll be the guinea pigs now.”

Bishop said July 18 will be a “tear down” day for his staff and will likely be down for the entire week. When Sparks gets the go-ahead, Bishop said he might distribute blurbs or promotions via radio, newspaper and social media. Bishop said there will be one staffer at the courthouse giving customers information.

“It’s going to be an interesting process,” he said. “I’ve been here 17 years. Our daughter got married and we took a picture of her and the door. The last courthouse picture with my name on the door. We’re looking forward to the new move and excited what that will bring as well.”

Contact Christopher Braunschweig at 641-792-3121 ext 6560 or at cbraunschweig@newtondailynews.com