Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Two Jonesboro City Council committees met Thursday evening to discuss the idea of purchasing a building on Highland Drive to house a second police station.

The Finance and Administration Council Committee and the Public Safety Council Committee each met to discuss the merits of purchasing the former Shelter Insurance building, located at 1709 E. Highland Drive, as a second location. Thursday’s meeting was just a discussion, so no legislative action was taken.

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The building is about 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. Jonesboro Police Department (JPD) Chief Rick Elliott added that about 30-35 employees would be relocated there.

“I just need to get everything housed in two locations for efficiency and better service,” Elliott said. “We’re causing the public to go to multiple locations for their needs.”

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

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

JPD’s evidence, Internet Crimes Against Children division, patrol, mental health and wellness coordinator, training, warrants, court services, and Real Time Crime Center (RTCC), would remain at the current police station at 1001 S. Caraway Road, with the RTCC to be relocated again upon completion of the new center, which broke ground in July.

Police divisions are currently being housed in several government buildings, such as the community centers and the former City Hall, across the city, which were moved 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, Elliott said.

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 4.830% interest. The city’s finance director, Steve Purtee, said this would allow the city to save its reserve funding for other uses, such as matching grants, which can net the city more money for improvements in the long run.

“We’ve got about $12 million in reserves after our reserve minimum requirement,” he said. “We could use that to support grant programs, other things, expediting those funds out of the reserve, into other programs and opportunities.”

Purtee noted during his presentation that if council voted to purchase the building, the city would save on insurance costs. It would cost $9,075 annually to insure the Shelter building, while it costs $7,092.67 annually to insure the former City Hall building, and $16,155.53 annually to insure the Justice Complex. Both would be demolished if the Shelter building was purchased.

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.

In the past, police and city leadership have considered two other properties: First United Methodist Church’s youth building in downtown Jonesboro and the former Park Place Inn on Caraway Road.

| PREVIOUSLY: Discussion Regarding Location for Second Jonesboro Police Station Continues in Committee

The city’s chief administration officer, Brian Richardson, told JRN that at this time, only the Shelter Insurance building property is up for consideration by council, but that if it was not approved, then the city would continue to explore other options.

The issue will go before the Finance and Administration Council Committee at its Aug. 11 meeting. If forwarded to the full council, it will be considered at the Aug. 18 meeting.

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