Lyon County commissioners approved preliminary plans to renovate the former Deer Trail building near the Lyon County Fairgrounds to prepare it for the Lyon County Extension office.
The Lyon County Extension Office must move out of its home at 618 Commercial St. by the end of November.
Commissioner Bob Davis presented the plans to fellow commissioners during Thursday’s action session. Davis said the initial plan is to brick in both sides of the building that are now glass, which used to be Deer Trail’s showroom.
The plans also include a meeting room, work room, copy room, kitchen, break room, reception area, research area and offices. Brian Rees of the Lyon County Extension Office, said the proposed meeting room is a little smaller than they have now.
Rees expressed concern over the work room being so close to the reception area. The work room tends to be loud with copy equipment, he said.
“It wouldn’t be conducive to meeting and greeting the public,” he said.
Davis said the project could take between 90 and 100 days, which puts it right at the wire. Bids will start being taken somewhere between the next weeks to 10 days, he said.
Rees said he is fairly pleased with the plans.
“I’m happy to see progress,” he said. “I’m happy to see progress on a new home for us.”
Rees said potential funding is still being worked out. He welcomes any funding sources, he said.
“It makes it a little bit easier to have plans rather than say we’re ‘getting ready to remodel a building,’” he said.
No dollar amount has been given for the project.
Also during Thursday’s meeting:
• Commissioners approved an agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation for installation of railway-highway crossing signals, flashing lights and gate arms at BNSF Railway crossing on Road Z south of Highway 170 at Reading.
• Approved the concept of a contract with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to clean up an illegal dump site.