Sheriff Gerald Robinson was smiling Monday evening after the Jefferson County Quorum Court unanimously adopted a $1.67 million appropriation to start construction of a new building to house the sheriff’s department’s Criminal Investigation and Patrol divisions.
In November Robinson proposed building a two-story facility adjacent to the W.C. “Dub” Brazzell Adult Detention Center for the department’s two divisions, which are currently housed in buildings in the 100 block of Main Street that have numerous problems, including leaking roofs.
After Monday’s vote, Robinson said he was ready to start on the project “as soon as possible. … We can do some ground work as soon as we can get the rain to stop.”
He said he hopes departmental personnel can move into the new offices “10-12 months after we start construction.”
The cost of the initial proposal was at about $3.1 million, and several justices of the peace, including Dr. Herman Ginger, chairman of the Public Safety/Emergency Services Committee, asked County Judge Mike Holcomb to identify options to reduce the cost.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
In a letter to the justices, Robinson acknowledged the $3.1 million estimate was an issue and said the department was prepared to make amendments to reduce those costs. He indicated the total bill for the new building would be no more than $2.5 million, which would completely construct the facility, and enable not only the two divisions to move, but would also allow the department to locate the Technical Services, Warrants and Civil divisions in the new building, in addition to other department personnel.
The county’s chief law enforcement officer said the department would acquire additional funds through forfeitures and private donations to complete the second floor of the building, which will be initially constructed as a shell.
The ordinance authorized the transfer of $100,000 from the proceeds of the sale of the old county jail, $150,000 from Mortgage Revenue Bonds, $25,000 from the county Escrow Fund, $133,000 from the Jail Operations Fund, $1,006,000 from the Detention Facilities Reserve Fund, and $263,000 from the Detention Facilities Maintenance and Operation Fund into a new account established to finance the construction.
Justices of the peace are expected to authorize additional appropriations for the project later this year.
The court took care of several housekeeping chores during Monday’s meeting:
• Appropriated $18,952 in insurance payments for five damaged departmental vehicles and $1,956 for an emergency warning siren at 1201 Commerce Road;
• Approved a $15,402 appropriation from fines collected in the county for a fish and wildlife conservation education fund;
• Approved a $25,225 appropriation for Jefferson County Circuit Court’s Sixth Division (Juvenile Court)
• Approved a $65,848 supplemental appropriation for the FINS and truancy program from grant monies.
• Approved a transfer ordinance of $48,198 for fire safety upgrades to County Courthouse elevators required by the state.