Local veterans complained Thursday about the decision to move the Mercer County Veterans Affairs Office to the basement of the courthouse as part of a renovation there.

Some veterans argued that the office won't be as accessible in the basement as it is on the first floor, just inside the north entrance of the courthouse.

County commissioners tried to assure the veterans -- about two dozen attended a commissioners' meeting Thursday -- that the office will not be less accessible in the basement.

Commissioners said a handicapped entrance on the south side of the courthouse and feeding into the basement should make it easy for vets to reach the planned office. They also argued that the office should be able to "more appropriately" meet the needs of the county's veterans by providing more privacy and a better waiting area.

Currently, those who are waiting for service generally wait in the hallway because of a lack of seating. Also, the current office does not offer privacy for veterans meeting with office administrators, commissioners said.

In response to veterans' concerns over the hiring of full-time replacements for office Director James Smartz and Administrative Assistant Rosemary McKenna, who are retiring in the summer, commissioners said they would tap replacements well before their retirements to give new administrators time to learn the ropes and be up to speed when they take the helm.

Commissioners plan to interview seven candidates for the director's position Tuesday. Three members of the newly formed Mercer County Veterans Advisory Council will sit in on the interviews, but won't play a role in selecting the director. The seven candidates were chosen from 55 applicants.