Carbon has a new space
In a few weeks, Carbon County adult probation, juvenile probation and Veterans Affairs will have a new home.
The 76 Susquehanna St. building renovation project is nearing completion with the final touches being put into place.
On Thursday, the county commissioners ratified a proposal with IntegraOne of Allentown to provide a new phone system to serve the courthouse, administration building, and 44 and 76 Susquehanna St. buildings at a cost of $154,043.05.
The board said that this installation will be the final piece before the departments can move in. The commissioners anticipate the three departments moving into the newly renovated first floor sometime between Aug. 2 and 9.
Commissioner Rocky Ahner provided a tour of the new renovation, showing the expanded quarters for the three departments.
Juvenile probation currently employs seven people, while adult probation has 19 staff members.
Both departments will now have room to expand operations as the county’s caseloads continue to rise.
They will also have new interview rooms, a shared conference room, lockers that are large enough to hold all of the officers’ safety equipment and more.
Likewise, the Veterans Affairs department, which is located in the administration building, will have more space to better serve the veterans of the county.
Ahner said that the renovations will help these departments and will provide the county with additional space to shift other departments around.
Currently, the historic courthouse is out of space and departments are cramped into smaller spaces.
The move now opens up a portion of the first floor of the courthouse.
The 76 Susquehanna St. building is part of a larger, $4 million renovation project that includes 44 Susquehanna St.
That building, which is the former archives and maintenance building, is on track to be completed in September and will house the elections bureau on the main floor, and the office of planning and development and workforce on the second floor.