It’s been over two years since Carbon County officials began working on renovation projects that could create much needed space for the courthouse offices.

Probation offices have been shifted, a building for Children and Youth Services has been purchased and is being renovated and two buildings have been reconfigured.

But on Thursday, District Attorney Michael Greek said the actual courthouse remains cramped and his office can no longer function properly due to the lack of space.

“I can’t continue to operate the district attorney’s office. Sharing desks. The overcrowding. It’s not safe,” Greek said. “And there’s no end in sight because nobody’s given me any indication of what’s going on.

“... It’s just that, I can’t emphasize how much of a critical level we’re at. I have victims sitting amongst the attorneys. When I have immense overcrowding during criminal pretrial days, I have people sharing desks. I don’t have a desk for a part-time employee to sit at. I can’t function.”

Greek added that because of the uncertainty, he can’t properly budget his office.

Commissioner Rocky Ahner said he has been asking questions about a potential move for the clerk of courts office for several months without answers.

The clerk’s office requires two automated filing systems, which Ahner said the floor may not be able to support without several beams being installed.

Ahner said he estimates if this was the scenario, it would cost about $400,000.

“There were a lot of belts tightened to get the 2023 budget to a zero-tax increase,” Ahner said. “I’m not open to spending money on unexpected cost to the taxpayer that could also affect the structural integrity of a building that’s over 100 years old.”

Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein said that a motion on the floor will include a structural study on that room to see what it needs.

“What my feeling is, it’s an embarrassment to ask and then we still don’t have that,” Nothstein said, adding that his intentions are to move the clerk of courts to the first floor and use that space to expand the district attorney’s office.

Earlier this month, the county moved forward with starting renovations in the first floor office space for preparation for occupancy.

Greek thanked the board for allowing him time to speak, but noted that the building, which was constructed in 1893, isn’t fully serving the needs of the courts anymore.

“There’s only so much office space in that building,” Greek said. “Our courts have grown. ... The sheriff’s office needs space. We’re all burdened with the space issues. I know it’s difficult decisions, but I’m just saying that I really feel at a critical level of my office.”

Commissioner Chris Lukasevich asked Greek why, if he needed space, that he never requested to utilize the first floor office space temporarily.

“No one was prohibited from utilizing that space,” Lukasevich said. “No requests came saying we want to use it.”

Greek said that while the space was functional, it wasn’t functional for his office being split onto two floors due to files and cases that would be needed.

“I don’t think it’s feasible and it’s not fair,” he said.

Lukasevich said that Greek is looking for optimal solutions rather than adequate for the time being.

Greek said that dividing the office wouldn’t help the situation.

He then compared it to the commissioners splitting its office space onto two floors. “You can’t function and dividing an office in half over two floors,” Greek said. “You can’t do that. It just won’t function and work when you could move another office.”

The commissioners then approved the change in the scope of work with Boyle Construction Management of Allentown at a cost of $23,000 for a structural study of the first floor.