The Butler County commissioners are debating what option to pursue to acquire additional office space for human services.

On June 14, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs announced that after construction of a new off-campus health care center, it will close and possibly raze the main VA health care building — often referred to as Building 1 — on New Castle Road.

Construction of the new facility is to begin this fall and is projected to be completed in 2014.

Even if the county commissioners were to go ahead with constructing a new office building on the site of the former prison adjacent to the government center, as is being considered, it probably would be 2014 or later until that structure would be available for use.

The commissioners wouldn’t be able to move ahead with that new construction until financing for the new office building was in place. Presumably, more than a couple of months would be needed to plan and design the building, followed by bidding and awarding of contracts — then time for construction.

It could be 2014 or later until the new county structure would be open for business.

All of that raises the question of whether the availability of the big VA structure could meet county government’s needs — and much more — through either a purchase or rental deal with the federal government.

While county leaders prefer that human services remain close to the heart of county operations, including the courts, the VA property is only a couple of miles away — not too great a distance to preclude at least discussion of the option.

With the VA’s timetable centering on 2014, now is the time for leaders and taxpayers to consider the possibilities for Building 1. The new construction that Commissioners William McCarrier and Dale Pinkerton favor should also be discussed.

Commissioner Jim Eckstein prefers buying an existing building, although there’s no evidence that he’s given thought to Building 1.

What’s important now is that public discussion about the various options, including the financial effects on county government and the taxpayers, begin immediately, not wait until late 2013 or early 2014, when it would be too late to adequately weigh the options.

Without consideration of Building 1’s potential, the commissioners would deprive county residents of a full examination of the building issue.

Building 1 is about four times larger than the additional space that the county deems essential for human services needs. With that in mind, the commissioners should ascertain whether there are other possible county needs that have not been so far addressed, because of the emphasis on human services.

At the same time, the commissioners should at least reflect on how the county might save money by renting or buying the building, then renting out unneeded space to help pay the county’s rent to the federal government, or payments under a bond issue

Building 1 has potential to be a one-stop service center. In addition to human services, it could house congressional and state Senate and House members’ offices, a district judge’s office, a satellite courtroom plus other possibilities as a one-stop center.

Some people might also might be wondering whether the Community Development Corporation of Butler County also might be a candidate to be the building’s owner, with the possibility of turning the structure into a tax-revenue-producing entity.

Some taxpayer concern already has been expressed over the federal government having made more than $8 million worth of improvements to Building 1 over the past few years.

If the building can escape the wrecking ball and kept in productive use, it should be.

Building 1 has been part of the Butler landscape since 1939. It remains a monument to this nation’s and region’s commitment to those who have served and defended this country.

It’s future deserves a full range of consideration, with county government being an important part of it.