HILO » Hawaii County is hiring an outside investigator to look into whether a county warehouse has been improperly used to run a sign-printing business.

West Hawaii Today reported Thursday that the warehouse used for storage of voting equipment has been closed and locked, and its sole full-time employee, Glen Shikuma, has been moved to the county’s main elections office.

Shikuma, who once owned his own sign-printing business, denies wrongdoing.

County Clerk Jamae Kawauchi says her office commissioned an investigation to gather, review an analyze facts concerning possibility violations of county policy at the warehouse.

County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong says he visited the warehouse, ordered the locks to be changed and has the authority to hire an outside special investigator.