By Wayne Gates
Some important Brown County offices will be doing business in new locations starting this week.
The Brown County Child Support Enforcement office has moved to 510 East State Street in Georgetown, where it will share the building with Brown County Probate/Juvenile Court.
The plan is to have both offices open to the public on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
The Brown County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office will be moving to 750 Mt. Orab Pike to the old child support office location right in front of the sheriff’s department.
There are two main reasons for the moves. First, because the child support office serves a state function, the state of Ohio will pay for a portion of housing the office. By placing the office in a building that is still being paid for, the county will save money by being able to use the additional money from the state.
Another reason is bringing offices together that have similar functions. Probate/Juvenile court has direct control over child support enforcement, and the prosecutor’s office works closely with members of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department.
“We have been discussing this idea for a couple of years. The detectives are in here all the time. We discuss cases, have meetings, talk about current investigations. It will be much more convenient to be right next door to them,” said Brown County Prosecuting Attorney Zac Corbin.
Brown County Probate/Juvenile Court Administrator Charles Ashmore sees advantages to the new arrangement as well.
“Child support has been under the court for a couple of years now, but it’s been difficult at times staying in contact with them across town,” he said.
He added that the public will now be better served with the renovations at the 510 East State Street building.
“The biggest advantage is that we will have two courtrooms in this building. We will be able to hold hearings simultaneously with the judge and magistrate, which will dramatically speed up the docket,” Ashmore said.
“Our hope on the child support side is always to get the money to the well deserving parent who is taking care of those kids.”
He added that with the new 40 bed low level offender space opening soon at the Brown County Jail, the child support cases may start to have better outcomes.
“We feel like the stars are aligning. We will have a second courtroom to speed things up and we will have jail space for them if they choose not to comply,” Ashmore said.
Both offices will be closed on Friday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 4 while moving activities take place.