HAMILTON — County workers worried about asbestos contamination in the Butler County Courthouse rushed Friday to sign up to move to a temporary office off courthouse grounds.

        More than 30 of the county's Adult Probation Department staff of about 50 requested a transfer out of the fourth-floor office, sending county officials scrambling to prepare makeshift offices elsewhere in downtown Hamilton.

        The rush to leave was prompted by news this week of potentially hazardous asbestos debris in the courthouse's attic and bell tower directly over the probation department's ceiling.

        Despite the release Friday of air-quality tests which, according to county officials, show that airborne asbestos particles are within federal limits for safety, many staffers remain unconvinced and angry at the county administrator, who claimed workers had been told previously they could move.

        Thursday, Butler County Administrator Derek Conklin said the county had already offered to move concerned workers to county-rented offices across the street, but that no one had responded to the offer.

        But Gary Yates, Butler County director of court services, said he had no knowledge of such an offer to probation employees under his supervision, and workers agreed.

        Mr. Conklin's office staff said he was out of town Friday on vacation and unavailable to comment.

        A private asbestos abatement firm will begin sealing off the department Feb. 16 to remove the asbestos material during a two-day period.

        Mr. Yates said air-quality testing will continue to ensure environmental safety.

        He said workers will begin moving to temporary offices Monday. The impact on the department's efficiency — and budget — has not been determined, he said.

        The department supervised more than 1,600 adult probationers and conducted about 1,200 presentencing and probation investigations last year.

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