Design development drawings of a county office building won admiring comments from all five commissioners Monday, but in the end, approval came on yet another 3-2 vote.

Board Chairman Tim Lea and Vice Chairwoman Cindy Morgan reiterated their objections to the location, not to the building itself or the design.

"It's well designed, but I cannot approve of the location," Lea said in a brief interview after the meeting.

Lea and Morgan have consistently opposed placement of the office building on the 21-acre tract in downtown Carthage, where the county also plans to build the public safety-detention center complex. They argue that the county needs a larger facility to accommodate the court system and the property is not large enough for all three buildings.

Architects with LS3P Associates presented the drawings during the board's regular meeting, the first of the new year. The drawings had been recommended by the Government Center Committee.

The drawings, with interior glimpses of both floors, include the 250-seat meeting room for the commissioners and a smaller meeting room for the Planning Board, both on the first floor.

The 82,000-square-foot building is expected to cost up to $10.5 million. Hoping to take advantage of lower bids because of the sluggish economy, the commissioners in late 2009 approved the addition of 30,000 square feet to the building by developing the full basement (24,000 square feet) and using 4,000 square feet in space above the board meeting room, to be available as common space.

Among the questions directed at the architects was the quality of acoustics in the board meeting room. Lea pointed out that poor acoustics in the present room has long been an issue with the public and the commissioners. (It was formerly used as a courtroom in the historic courthouse.)

Improved acoustics and a large viewing screen at the front of the meeting room are among the factors built into the design to improve convenience and access by the public. Room is provided for wheelchairs.

On the first floor, along with the Department of Planning and Community Development and Environmental Health, will be the tax offices. On the second floor will be administration, finance, county attorney, human resources, information technology (computer) and geographic information services (mapping).

The design also offers energy efficiency with a north-south orientation. The front of the building will face north.

The architects said the original design has been amended to use less glass, as a means of achieving a more traditional appearance.

The committee recommended one minor change suggested by the architects. This calls for replacing white accent brick panels along the building front with bricks matching the red color in other areas of the building. The architects said the change would ensure aesthetic consistency.

Commissioner Larry Caddell made the motion to accept the committee's recommendations, and Commissioner Jimmy Melton made the second.

Morgan was first to express opposition to the proposed location of the building.

"I like the design, but I can't vote for it because of the location," she said.

Lea immediately expressed agreement and said that his views echo her concerns about the 21-acre tract adjacent to the existing county jail. The land, acquired for $1.5 million in 2007, abuts McNeill and Dowd streets as well as Saunders Street in downtown Carthage.

The site has been the source of continuing opposition from a group of Carthage residents, including Bert Patrick, who repeated her objections during the public-comment period at the beginning of the Monday meeting. Her objections focus not on the office building but on the public safety-detention center complex, being designed for possible future expansion to accommodate as many as 600 inmates.

Opponents say the detention center will pose a security threat to nearby residents as well as churches, the public library, a public school and other government facilities in the vicinity, and will lower property values.

Patrick ran unsuccessfully for mayor, campaigning against the proposed jail expansion.

When it came time for the vote, Commissioner Nick Picerno, the former chairman, joined Caddell and Melton in favoring the design, and Morgan and Lea voted as they had announced.

The architects are to return in early April with construction design plans, which, once approved, will clear the way for the awarding of contracts in June.

Contact Florence Gilkeson at (910) 693-2479 or by e-mail at florence@thepilot.com.