Unfettered access into the historic wing of the county courthouse – a given for more than 100 years – is nearing its end.

And while it may be welcomed by local law enforcement officials, who have long-pleaded for a remedy for the lack of courthouse security and office space, the pending – and continuing – remodel of the interior of the courthouse could end up ruffling a feather or two.

On Jan. 26, the San Juan County Council gave tentative approval to financing that remodel, which will allow several law and justice departments to swap office space and, following its completion, set the stage for improved security within the halls of the 100-year-old brick building and its more recent addition.

The remodel, estimated at $40,000 – $24,000 of which would come from a fund historically used by the Sheriff to purchase new patrol cars – will pave the way for the prosecuting attorney’s office to relocate onto the ground floor of the historic wing. The staff of juvenile court, and the adult and juvenile probation officers, will then move into the space on the second floor of the courthouse addition vacated by the county’s legal team.

Meanwhile, the twin porticos at the building’s southeast end, the original entrances into the century-old courthouse, would become “exits only.” Entrance into the courthouse would be limited to the four entryways of the new addition, which was constructed more than a decade ago and is home to the county’s financial departments and superior court.

Prosecuting Attorney Randy Gaylord said that the remodel and shuffling of office space, in addition to providing a framework for better security, should help all three departments operate more efficiently. It will place juvenile-court personnel closer to superior court and its staff, with whom they work with frequently, and, Gaylord noted, provide state Corrections with a part-time office as well.

“Having adult and juvenile probation close to the superior court judge is a real plus,” he said. “This brings those departments that work together, close together.”

Gaylord noted there’s also ample room to achieve a long-sought-after goal of his department by relocating to the ground floor of the historic wing. The agency has long-leased office space about a block away from the courthouse for two of its five attorneys, and there’s space enough in the historic wing for all five.

“I’ve wanted to consolidate every one under one roof for quite awhile,” he said. “That’s been my objective.”

The county accomplished a long-running objective of its own last year by converting the council’s former offices and hearing room on the second floor of the historic wing into a permanent courtroom, a jury room and a suite of offices for district court staff. That remodel was the second stage of a larger courthouse renovation project which totaled $527,000 and was jump-started and paid for in part by two state grants, including a historic preservation grant of up to $367,000 in matching funds.

Final approval of the pending $40,000 remodel, the remaining $16,000 of which will be paid for by the county’s capital improvement fund, is expected by the council sometime in March.