Brookings County needs more space for its government offices. Its Commission has been diligently searching for land on which to build anew or a building in which to relocate some of its departments and services. Now it has one more possibility to consider as it moves its "space needs study" forward.

During "Commissioner Reports" at its Tuesday meeting, Commissioner Dennis Falken said he wants the study on the commission's agenda at its meeting next Tuesday (Sept. 2). He explained that he and Commission Chairwoman Deanna Santema "did meet with a property owner last week, and a certain property is for sale. It appears that the size of the property would fit our needs."

Beyond those bare-bones details, however, Falken had little to say, citing "confidentially" at this point. He did not name the property owner or the location of the land.

But he added, "We're not negotiating a price; all we're doing is saying, 'Is it for sale, would it work?' There's no sense looking at a piece of property that doesn't fit. But anyway , I would like to just bring sketches next week to show some options of where a building could fit on this size of property.

"So we can look at that and see if the board (commission) feels, yes, let's move forward and, yes, let's have them bring a cost of this property to us in an open meeting."

Falken explained that he did not want to "continue to move forward" unless his fellow commissioners looked at the sketches and said, "Yes , this is something we're interested in."

He also pointed out that the public needed to know that the commission was looking at another piece of property as an option.

Santema agreed with Falken, calling his proposal a "good idea," adding, "We can look at it and everybody can see if it would be a possibility." She also pointed out a need to protect the identify of the property owner for now. Additionally, she and Falken reiterated their wanting to see the results of the appraisal of the former First Bank & Trust building at the corner of Fifth Street and Fifth Avenue. The commissioners have visited the building, and it remains a possibility for a relocation of some county services and departments .

John Kubal may be reached at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.