Changes are afoot that will make the county courthouse and government center more user friendly for visitors and efficient for employees.

The county commissioners on Wednesday approved several items related to the historic courthouse and its sister building, the county government center.

Stantec Architecture and Engineering of Butler will help the county develop a master plan for all offices in the courthouse and county government center to create maximum efficiency, accommodate court needs, address continuity of services in a pandemic or disaster, increase safety in the two buildings, place offices heavily used by the public in the same general area, place various offices in the most effective locations, reduce wear and tear on the government center's elevators and other factors.

The commissioners used as an example residents who come to the sheriff's office for gun permits.

Now, those accessing the sheriff's office must enter the county government building on South Jackson Street, take the elevator in the lobby to the third floor, find and cross the enclosed walkway to the courthouse, and either take the stairs or elevator in the courthouse to the first floor where the sheriff's office is located.

Osche said she would like to see the sheriff's office placed in the current Veterans Services office in the lobby on the county government center's first floor. The Veterans Services office could then be moved to another office that is near the elevator for easy access by veterans with physical limitations.

The cost for Stantec's master plan for the buildings has not yet been determined and will be voted on later.

The commissioners also approved measures to complete the interior on the first floor of the annex in the county government center so the Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary offices can move there from their current location at the courthouse.

Mark Gordon, the county's chief of economic development and planning, said the move would occur in late June. He said uses for the current offices in the courthouse have not been determined.