A fire that destroyed the historic Masonic Temple in downtown Zanesville late Thursday night is continuing to cause issues for numerous businesses and county offices.

Due to concerns regarding the hallowed building’s potential for collapse, both American Electric Power (AEP) of Ohio and Columbia Gas of Ohio won’t reconnect services to the particular block which houses the Muskingum County Courthouse, the Muskingum County Jail, various county offices and multiple businesses.

Therefore, the County’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) has been enacted to ensure vital services and operations are able to remain operational.

At an emergency organizational and press meeting Saturday afternoon, county officials discussed the reality they are currently facing.

Complications have meant that the now-destroyed Masonic Temple wasn’t demolished over the weekend, as they had hoped, and likely won’t be anytime soon, according to those with information regarding the current status of the situation.

That has forced numerous government offices to be temporarily relocated. Officials have released the following relocations and means of contact (last updated 1/1/2022):

• Accounting and Payroll: EMA Office (2215 Adamsville Road, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-453-1655}
• Auditor Real Estate: Board of Elections Office (627 Market Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7120}
• Auditor GIS: EMA Office (2215 Adamsville Road, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-453-1655}
• Clerk of Courts: Domestic Court/Hixson Building (22 N 5th Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7898}
• Commissioners: EMA Office (2215 Adamsville Road, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-453-1655}
• Community Development: Building Department/Hixson Building (22 N 5th Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7193}
• County Court: Law Library/Hixson Building (22 N 5th Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7138}
• Engineering/Mapping: Board of Elections Office (627 Market Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7120}
• HR/Benefits: Building Department/Hixson Building (22 N 5th Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7905; option 2}
• Probate Court: Juvenile Court (1860 E Pike, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-453-0351}
• Prosecutor: 14 South 5th Street, Second Floor; Access by Appointment Only {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7123}
• Recorder: Board of Elections Office (627 Market Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7122}
• Treasurer: Sheriff’s Office (1840 East Pike, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-454-7134; ext. 6161}
• Adult Probation: Hixson Building (22 N 5th Street, Zanesville) {can be reached by phone at: 740-455-7145}
• Common Pleas Court: Hixson Building (22 N 5th Street, Zanesville) {no phone number provided}

If you cannot reach the office you are trying to contact, call (740) 453-1655 for connection.