EPHRATA — The Grant County commissioners approved purchasing land south of the courthouse to add parking.

The commissioners approved transferring $80,000 from the real estate excise tax to purchase the land and house with plans to turn it into a parking lot. The tax money is only available for capital purchases and cannot be used for operating expenses.

“We’re trying to provide more public parking,” Commissioner Cindy Carter said. “And more parking so employees don’t park on the perimeter … We have people that need to park and that has been a complaint that we don’t have enough.”

The structure, along with another piece of land purchased in 2008, would be demolished to add space. She estimated the newly-purchased land could be turned into about 24 to 30 additional slots.

“It’s going to be more feasible to do them at the same time,” she said.

It’s unknown whether the parking lot would be installed within the year, Carter said, adding there are other projects that may be more important, such as improving courthouse security.

The county is re-establishing the courthouse security committee after a group from the Grant County Bar Association brought safety issues to their attention.

Originally published March 4, 2010