Fayetteville officials are

moving ahead with plans for a new law enforcement center to meet the needs

of its growing community and increasingly burdened city departments.

The City Council will vote

at next Thursday night's regular meeting on a proposal recommending the

retention of a criminal justice consultant, who would assess the city's

needs and offer site selection services with regard to a new headquarters

facility for the Police Department and possibly a new municipal court

facility.

Police Chief Johnny Roberts

presented a proposal to the City Council at its work session last week

and recommended accepting a $39,800 bid from The Facility Group. The bid

outlined services in three major areas needs assessment; site selection

and selection assistance; and master plan/bridging documents.

Roberts pointed out that the

current police facility has been in use since 1980 and has long been outgrown.

Should a new headquarters be built, the existing building could be utilized

City court, which currently

is convened each week in the council chambers at City Hall, also far exceeds

its case loads of years past and often causes crowding. City employees

routinely walk several blocks to work on days that court is in session

because of a lack of parking, Roberts said.

Should the City Council approve

the proposal, the consulting work is expected to take a few months.

Back

to News Home Page |