Courthouse staffers begin move Monday

• City will transfer midweek

BROOKINGS – The Big Move is under way.

The transfer of materials and equipment has started, and on Monday, county staffers will begin their relocation to the Brookings City & County Government Center.

While the county will start the exodus, city workers won’t be far behind: the move of city and county departments will take place throughout the week of June 11-15.

In a public statement released earlier this week, Commission Assistant Stephanie Ellwein and City Manager Jeff Weldon asked for the public’s patience and cooperation as government staffs transition to their new headquarters.

There may be a few times next week that files won’t be available or when telephone lines or computers are down briefly.

Nevertheless, citizens needing service or assistance should continue to call or use current city and county facilities until June 15. After that, starting Monday, June 18, everything should be in place at the shared administrative center.

Until then, residents can check the city’s and county’s websites or Facebook pages for updates on which offices are moving on each day.

Ellwein says county staff will be updating its website daily as the moving progresses.

And while a move-in for both the county commission and city council was planned for later this month, the two governing bodies won’t be holding their first official meetings in the new chambers until July 10. The sessions have been delayed slightly to make sure all the technology in the new council/commission room is operating smoothly.

The official dedication and ribbon-cutting hasn’t changed, however. That will take place on Wednesday, June 27, beginning at 5 p.m.

The Brookings City & County Government Center is located on Third Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, across from the public library in downtown Brookings.