The Carroll County Board of Supervisors has decided to deny the renewal of a lease for state and public defender office space, citing a lack of necessity and readiness. The lease, which has been in place for several years at a cost of just $120 annually, has become increasingly irrelevant as the public defender position has remained unfilled since a recent remodel of the space.

During the meeting, board members expressed concerns about the condition of the basement rooms designated for the public defender's office, noting they are not suitable for occupancy at this time. Supervisor Scott emphasized that without a current public defender to occupy the space, renewing the lease would be unnecessary.

The board agreed to table the decision, indicating they are open to reconsidering the lease if the state can provide a replacement public defender in the future. Supervisor Gene made a motion to formally deny the lease renewal, which was seconded and passed unanimously.

While the lease amount is minimal, the board acknowledged that every decision regarding county resources must be made with careful consideration of service needs and operational readiness. The supervisors are prepared to accommodate the state should they find a suitable candidate for the public defender role in the future.