by Mindy Aguon

Guam - The Attorney General's Office expects to be fully settled in to their new office space at the ITC Building by May. Attorney General Leonardo Rapadas says renovations to the 35,000 square feet of office space they will occupy is underway. Fujita Properties was awarded the contract and a lease agreement was signed for $1.3 million a year.

Rapadas says the new lease is actually going to save his office money, telling KUAM News, "We're getting full service there. We're getting cleanup twice a week and power and water. We're not getting power and water right now. We pay for that ourselves so everything is pretty much covered. The current lease will take care of our build outs as we come in."

Last year Public Works advised the office to move out following growing concerns about the structural integrity of the old Hagatna building. AG's Office employees have reported hearing snapping and cracking sounds within the walls. DPW had given the landlord, Big Bird Enterprises, time to hire a structural engineer but the company never complied.

Rapadas meanwhile says he anticipates minimal disruption to services during the move, which will begin in March.