Demolition work is in high gear Wednesday of  several buildings at 22nd & Vine Streets in Hays, property owned by Ellis County and former site of the Kansas Department of Transportation.

Hays Commerce Bank will build a new facility at the location and the downtown bank will become the new home of most Ellis County offices.

The Ellis County courthouse, where the jail is now located, would become the primary location of the court system.

The county’s space needs committee is meeting Wednesday night to hear proposals from three jail consultants that address current overcrowding of prisoners in the jail.