Productivity and morale already are up at the Moniteau County Sheriff's Office since it moved into its new location.
An open house Aug. 17 invited visitors to tour the offices and enjoy barbecue. The event also provided a moment for the staff to show its appreciation to Sheriff Tony Wheatley, and his wife, Dana.
After taking office last January, Wheatley said he immediately began looking for new accommodations for the offices. He expected to rent, but the relocation of the Mid-Mo Ambulance into a new facility created the opportune situation.
The original 1940s-era repair shop was turned over to the Sheriff's Office for $10,000, which came from the sheriff's reserve fund, from civil process fees instead of taxpayer dollars. Another $20,000 renovated the interior and added furniture and technology.
After remodeling, the 13 employees now enjoy a work space with a little elbow room and secure, appropriate places to fulfill their law enforcement responsibilities.
At the former location, built in the 1980s, all the deputies shared two tiny work stations and computers. There was no room for them to set out evidence or other items needed to complete their work.
Now, one entire former ambulance bay has been converted to deputy office space and each deputy has his own space.
The other bay provides the department with storage for miscellaneous items, like its ATV. And it can be used for large projects, such as examining a vehicle or spreading out evidence, Wheatley said.
The former facility had no working security cameras and evidence was stored in a detached storage shed. Now, the offices and evidence are better protected.
"Our work productivity is up with the room to work and the equipment," Wheatley said.
The Sheriff's Office in the new place is twice as large and comes without the mold in the old place, he said. It will be an ideal place to display the large painting of K-9 Mizzou the staff gave him.
The road supervisor now has a separate office. There is also a space for the K-9 officer on duty to rest. In the past, the limited office space required the dogs to stay in the vehicle outside, Wheatley said.
A much needed addition to the sheriff's offices is an interview room. To conduct an interview in the former set-up, the interviewee would be taken to the 2012-built jail to use that interview room, the sheriff said.
A storage room and an adequate heating and cooling system also have freed up space, that in the former building required the computer server to take up part of the two computer stations and four electric heaters under foot.
"This is a lot more comfortable," Wheatley said.