Butler County commissioners have narrowed to two the options for a secure entrance to the county Government Center once the new jail is finished.

Currently, prisoners who are being moved from the adjoining jail to the Government Center's courtrooms go through a secure hallway and elevator, without having to be traverse public corridors. The new jail, however, will be a block from the courthouse.

Commissioners met recently with architects from Kimball & Associates, who designed the prison currently under construction, to discuss a sallyport, a secure entrance for a prison vehicle where prisoners transported from the jail would be received at the Government Center.

Kimball recommended the board consider three options. One would use the existing garage at the entrance to the existing prison. The other two call for a garage to be built with access to a secure corridor and elevator. One suggested location would be at the side of the building facing the parking garage while the other would be at the dock area of the building.

Chief Clerk William S. O'Donnell told the prison board Tuesday the first option wasn't being considered because the commissioners haven't decided what to do with the old prison. It could be demolished. It could be converted to office space.

Whichever option is picked, some parking spaces in the employee lot behind the government center will be lost.