Chase County commissioners voted Oct. 31 to relocate the county Road & Bridge department to office space at 201 Walnut and to require restricted access from the fire-station side outside normal business hours.

The proposal prompted several commissioners to raise security and records-access concerns. Matt said his primary worry was that an open walkway between the fire station and the proposed front office would allow noncounty personnel access to desks and workspace and that “that needs to be restricted,” arguing for locks and control of after-hours entry. County staff and other commissioners agreed that employee files would remain secured and discussed options such as locking desks, rekeying file storage and placing heavier cabinets in secured rooms.

A motion to move Road & Bridge to 201 Walnut with restricted access from the fire-station side was made, amended to specify after-hours restriction, seconded and carried by voice vote. The commission directed staff and department heads to coordinate security details and said they would review how the arrangement works over a four- to six-month trial period.

The action was administrative; commissioners did not adopt new county policy during the vote. The chair said the office will continue to be available for usual meeting and training use, but the fire-station side entrance will be locked outside business hours and keys will be managed by Road & Bridge staff.