Hall County Courthouse, (Brian Neben, Central Nebraska Today)
GRAND ISLAND – The Hall County Board of Commissioners voted 6-1 Sept. 10 to offer the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services $50,000 a year for 20 years to help DHHS pay for office space.
County Commissioner Gary Quandt voted against the motion.
One of two DHHS Grand Island offices is located at 116 S. Pine St. It will be torn down as part of the project for an addition to the Hall County Courthouse.
Hall County Commissioner Chairman Ron Peterson said Sept. 19 that DHHS is considering consolidating its two offices into one office. The other DHHS office is located in the former Grand Island City Hall Building.
Peterson said DHHS is putting a request out to receive bids for office space.
The county owns the Federal Building, and discussion had occurred about relocating the Pine Street office to that site. However, Peterson said it was estimated it would cost $500,000 to $1 million to remodel the Federal Building for DHHS office space.
By not having DHHS locate in the Federal Building, “it allows us to have the Federal Building if we have some needs down the road.”
