Pine Bluff Mayor Debe Hollingsworth said Wednesday that about $1.9 million may be allocated by the city council toward police department developments involving the Joe Thomas Public Safety Building in the civic center, the former Army National Guard/Reserve armory at 1000 N. Myrtle St. and The Pines shopping mall.
“I understand that a resolution is being put together on the matter,” the mayor said.
A prior resolution — co-sponsored by Aldermen Charles Boyd, Glen Brown, Lloyd Holcomb Jr., George Stepps and Thelma Walker and calling for the mayor to be directed to proceed with the rehabilitation and renovation of the armory and Thomas Building as sites for police agencies and personnel — was pulled from the agenda at Monday’s council meeting.
The mayor said she anticipates roughly $1.7 million from the city’s bond money reserve will be earmarked for enhancements to the Thomas Building, which houses the police and fire departments’ administrative offices. She expects that about $200,000 will be taken from budgeted police and fire funds to finalize the overall effort.
Interim Police Chief Jeff Hubanks said Tuesday that an estimated $25,000 will be needed to renovate the former armory so that the facility can be utilized for evidence storage, a bike patrol office, a SWAT (special weapons and tactical team) staging area, garage storage for three SWAT vehicles and offices for crime scene technicians and an evidence sergeant.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Hubanks said police officers are providing some labor toward the alterations. Already, a water heater has been repaired and several windows that will no longer be needed are being bricked, he said, adding that asbestos at the facility is contained within “wrapped pipes” that the Army sealed before giving the structure to the city.
“As long as the asbestos isn’t disturbed, it’s OK,” Hubanks said.
The mayor said several officers had told her that they’re “excited” about the armory’s “potential.”
Many of the additions to the old armory were previously housed in the basement of the Thomas Building. With that space opening at the civic center facility, the department’s patrol division — now headquartered in an industrial-zone warehouse on Commerce Road — will eventually be relocated to the downtown structure, Hollingsworth said.
Meanwhile, a police sub-station is planned at The Pines, where owner Andy Weiner had offered rent-free space for the patrol division.
“We certainly need a presence there, but I’m not sure Andy needs to make that large of an investment for us,” the mayor said.
Hollingsworth believes the developments are “good news” for the department and city.
“This is a win-win for the entire community,” she said. “It provides a lot of flexibility that I believe will benefit everyone.”