Jennifer Moore, Madison County veterans service officer, stands in the former adult probation room, slated to become her new office as part of renovations at the county courthouse.
(Posted Jan. 27, 2016)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
With painting and repairs taking place at the Madison County Courthouse, representatives of the Veterans Affairs Office, located in the basement, want to know when their improvements will start.
The plan is to expand the cramped space into the former adult probation room, accessible via a double doorway in the back of what now serves as an office for veterans service officer Jennifer Moore. The county commissioners are arranging for a contractor to widen the pass-through.
The 12×15-foot probation room will become Moore’s new office and possibly double as a small meeting room, freeing up space to reconfigure the rest of the department. Ideas include setting aside a proper waiting area and moving files to a more secure spot. Currently, visiting veterans must stand in a narrow hallway alongside several large filing cabinets.
At a Jan. 25 meeting with Veterans Affairs personnel, Commissioner Mark Forrest said he is getting estimates for the renovations. Commissioner Paul Gross said many courthouse projects are in the works but that the Veterans Affairs needs are important.
“We’re juggling lots of moving parts but will make that a top priority,” Gross said.
Also on the list is conversion of the former municipal courtroom, also located in the basement, into a meeting room available for use by any courthouse department.
