Cole County commissioners have opted to close county offices during the hour in which the total eclipse is to occur Aug. 21.
At Tuesday's regular meeting, commissioners said the closing would be 12:30-1:30 p.m. The eclipse is expected to happen 1:14-1:16 p.m. that day.
The sheriff's department and county ambulance service will operate as usual the day of the eclipse.
Also at Tuesday's meeting, commissioners announced work is about 80 percent complete on renovations to offices in the Cole County Courthouse annex at 311 E. High St.
The commission initially estimated a $125,000 budget to paint and carpet the facility. The project was awarded to WAVCO Construction in April at a bid of more than $111,000.
However, the commission decided to add electrical improvements, ceiling work and new furniture to complete several upgrades at one time, bringing the total to $231,431. Of that amount, $42,772 is being paid by County Collector Larry Vincent. The rest of the money is coming from the portion of the county half-cent capital improvements sales tax designated for improving county facilities.
The contract calls for the improvements to be completed by Oct. 23.
The offices affected include the commission chambers and offices on the second floor, as well as the county collector's and county recorder's offices on the first floor.
Also Tuesday, the commission agreed to enter into a contract with a new food provider at the county jail. Sheriff John Wheeler said it was the first time in five years the department has made a change. The new provider, Florida-based Trinity Services Group, will give them more options, he said.
"It's a form of behavior modification," he said. "We want to make them (prisoners) have the type of behavior that will allow them to be able to return to the public. The options Trinity has will allow us to award people for good behavior. The better off they are, the less we have to deal with disruptive prisoners, and it's better for our manpower."
Wheeler said options like getting a hamburger could be offered without cost to the county, as it would be paid for by inmates through their commissary accounts.
"We're talking about minimal risk, first-time, non-violent offenders," Wheeler said. "They get a little more freedom."
The department has $235,000 budgeted for inmate food services. The jail's regular food service is a bland diet which keeps prisoners eating, he said.
"They can add salt and pepper, but we have no caffeine in the regular service, such as coffee; however, that can be bought by the inmate through their commissary account," he said.