County mulling over moving offices to new building

By Editor | January 17, 2024 |

By Carmen Ensinger

Back in September, the County Board purchased the Whitworth-Horn-Goetten building on the north side of the Square next to the Historical Society for $65,000.
Now that the insurance agency has moved into their new building on the corner across the street, the building has become vacant and at last Monday’s committee meetings, the Judiciary Committee members, along with other courthouse staff discussed how the building was going to be utilized.
Board Chairman Andrea Schnelten began the discussion.
“We talked about having our full-time public defender housed over there as we prepare for a new public defender in the very near future,” Schnelten said. “Our current part-time Public Defender, Mr. (Tom) Piper has used his personal office in White Hall for our use. We felt like it is only right to make the Public Defender’s office close to the court house.”
Apparently, Piper had approached the board with the news that he was closing his private office and intended to retire within the next year or two. The initial reason for closing his White Hall office was because his long-time secretary was wanting to retire.
In the meantime, because of the Safety-Act and more and more work being put on States Attorney’s and Public Defenders as cases must come before judges in a much quicker time frame, the State gave the County an additional $80,000 to make the part-time position of Public Defender into a full-time position.
Schnelten and the board had discussed putting the Public Defender’s office and the Probation office over in the new building.
“I think because Mr. Piper is going full time he wants space, but I would also like to sort of use that space as much as we can,” Schnelten said. “My recommendation is the Probation Department be moved over there as well. I think there is enough space for both offices. One benefit for them is that they would have the ability to hire an additional staff person.”
Judge Zachary Schmidt was in attendance and explained the staffing in the probation department.
“We share a probation officer with Scott County as a cost saving measure,” he said. “We have one probation officer for Greene County and we would like to add another so we would have 2 full time here in Greene.”
States Attorney Caleb Briscoe agreed.
“More and more people are being put on probation because of the Safe-T Act and I think the numbers justify 2.5 officers,” he said. “Their salaries are paid by the state and I think in terms of numbers, the expansion is warranted.”
There is no room in their offices in the courthouse to add another staff member. But Piper doesn’t want them in the other building with him either.
“I’ll need an area for my secretary, a confidential area for talking, filing space, computer space, office space for me,” Piper said. “My files are confidential so they will have to be kept in an area that is private. I don’t think there is room for all of us over there.”
The logical explanation would be to move the Probation Department to the new building and move the Public Defender’s office into the Probation Departments old offices. Piper doesn’t want this at all.
“The concern I have with the Public Defender’s office being in the same building as the State’s Attorney’s office is the perception it presents to some of the clients,” Piper said. “The perception that I work for this guy (States Attorney) is rampant and if you put us too close together – it’s only going to be worse.”
In its current state, there is a large front space and only two usable offices. There is a small kitchenette area and two back rooms that could be converted into offices.
Schnelten wants to see the building fully utilized.
“I just feel like it is too much space for you (Piper),” she said. “I just don’t want to see a large amount of office space just sitting there.”
Board member Mark Strang asked of the possibility of Piper continuing in his White Hall office since his secretary decided not to retire.
“It is a possibility,” he said. “What I’m concerned about is I think this is the time – the golden opportunity for the county to make a comment to public defense. You got a building that is available and you got money you didn’t use to have – you need to do it.
“I think that this is something that would hugely benefit the county and the criminal justice system for decades – not just now. I can continue to work in White Hall, but this is the time to do it and if we lose this opportunity now, then years from now when you are looking to do it, the opportunity isn’t going to be there. Because that day is going to come. I think this is your opportunity to do it at the least cost to the county.”