Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A resolution and an ordinance regarding purchasing a building to act as a second police station were forwarded to the full Jonesboro city council Tuesday by a committee.

The Finance and Administration Council Committee forwarded a resolution to enter into a contract to purchase the former Shelter Insurance Building, located at 1709 E. Highland Drive, as a second police station, as well as an ordinance to apply for a loan to finance the purchase.

The building is approximately 14,418 square feet, with 51 parking spaces, 29 office spaces, and two conference rooms. The purchase price would be $2.75 million, with an additional $250,000 expected for any renovation/customization costs.

| PREVIOUSLY: Jonesboro Committees Discuss Shelter Insurance Building as Second Police Station Location

If the building were purchased, the Jonesboro Police Department’s administration, records, criminal investigations, community outreach, and DARE programs would be housed there.

These divisions are currently housed in several government buildings, such as community centers and the former City Hall, across the city, which had to be relocated after a structural issue caused the Justice Complex to be vacated. Ultimately, the goal is to build a police station in downtown Jonesboro, but that is many years away and dependent on available funding, JPD Chief Rick Elliott previously said.

JPD’s evidence, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) division, patrol, mental health and wellness coordinator, training, warrants, court services, and Real Time Crime Center would remain at their current Caraway Road location.

During discussion of the resolution to enter into a contract to purchase the building, committee member David McClain asked if an independent inspection had been performed on the building. He had raised similar questions during a previous meeting of the Finance and Public Safety Council Committees to discuss the potential building purchase.

City engineering director Craig Light responded that the city had received an independent inspection Tuesday morning, and that he would provide a copy to McClain and the rest of the committee.

“I don’t have anything in my hands to look at that as an inspection report,” McClain said. “I feel like we all need to have that time to review it. This is a big deal; it’s needed. But at the same time, we spend taxpayer money, and we need to be able to look this stuff over and have all the information in hand before making a commitment.”

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McClain made a motion to postpone discussion of the resolution to the next Finance Committee meeting, which is scheduled for Aug. 25. His motion did not receive a second, so it died on the floor.

Committee member Brian Emison read a prepared statement from Mayor Harold Copenhaver, who could not attend the meeting.

“Following a request made at last week’s meeting, we engaged an independent inspector to look at the building. So, now we have had architects, the city engineer, inspector, and maintenance staff, along with an independent inspector, look over the building,” Copenhaver’s statement read.

The committee, with the exception of McClain, voted to forward the resolution to the full council.

| PREVIOUSLY: Another Location Being Considered for Second Jonesboro Police Station

There was no discussion regarding the ordinance to apply for a loan to purchase the building, but McClain was the sole ‘no’ vote on that as well. If the full city council voted to buy the building, funds would come from a $3 million Amendment 78 short-term loan to be repaid over five years at 4.83% interest.

Both issues will go before the full city council at its next meeting, scheduled for Aug. 18 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers of the Municipal Center, located at 300 S. Church St.

If the building purchase were to be approved, city officials would work to close on the property Aug. 21, with move-in and renovations to begin Aug. 24. By November, the building would be operational for police work, and by the end of the year, the former City Hall building on Washington Avenue would be ready for demolition.

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