The Mower County Board has taken the first steps toward moving Health and Human Services back downtown. - Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com

The county board has set its sights on moving the offices of Health and Human Services back downtown.

The Building Committee recommended the board begin taking steps to move the offices to the vacant space in the Mower County Government Center, which was vacated when the Jail and Justice Center opened.

“We think that it would be prudent to get these departments back here in the building,” Commissioner Jerry Reinartz said.

The potential remodel would cost about $3.8 million, according to a Knutson Architecture assessment. The county board already has $1 million set aside for the project, according to Reinartz.

The county could approve the remodel as early as next week’s meeting, when the board is expected to have all its members after Commissioner Tony Bennett was absent Tuesday.

Look to www.austindailyherald.com and the Wednesday Herald for more.