A firm plan to address a leaking civil defense office remains inlimbo, but Lincoln County supervisors have ruled out relocating theoffice in a home at the LinBrook Business Park, officials said.

“The LinBrook location has definitely been placed on the backburner,” said Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop. “Right now, they’restill looking into the best place for a civil defense office.”

LinBrook, formed through a cooperative venture of the county,city and Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, wasdesigned for job creation and industry. A civil defense office justdid not fit into the overall plan, Bishop said.

Although all three entities had hesitantly given approval forthe office to be moved into an available house in the park,supervisors rejected the site because it was – at best – atemporary solution.

“If an industry ever expressed interest in the location, theoffice would have to be moved because of the agreement made thatformed the park,” Bishop said. “It was in the best interest ofLinBrook that it be placed somewhere else.”

The removal of the LinBrook site still leaves supervisors withseveral options and they are trying to determine the mosteconomical and efficient location, he said.

“It’s not certain exactly where the best place for civil defenseis,” Bishop said. “The board has discussed several locations,including the present location.”

One option that remains open is to improve upon the currentlocation. However, the roof of the present building leaks badly andhas other problems.

The cost of renovating the building has been said to be notworth the investment. Bishop said there was a “very slim” chancethe old building would be renovated.

In addition, the existing building’s location on the site,nearly abutting East Chippewa Street, leaves little space forparking or storage of civil defense equipment.

The county surveyor is presently defining property lines todetermine whether it would be feasible to tear down the existingstructure and relocate a new building on the property, Bishopsaid.

Another option under discussion is a house on Union Street ownedby King’s Daughters Medical Center.

Phillip Grady, KDMC’s chief executive officer, has offered theuse of the home to the county on the condition the hospital couldrequest it back when needed.

Grady said the hospital presently has no plans for the home. Itwas purchased while it was available on the market to provide forfuture needs.