Law Enforcement Center Price is Right

The town's new "Law Enforcement Center" will cost less to build than originally thought--a lot less.

The Town Council has awarded a $4.8 million construction contract to Daniels & Daniels of Goldsboro, the lowest of nine bidders on the project. That's more than six hundred thousand dollars less than estimated when architectural plans were approved.

"We're very fortunate to be able to take advantage of the favorable building climate that's existed since the economic downturn," said Mayor Jody McLeod. "Were getting a very impressive facility at a good price."

Work is expected to begin within the next few weeks. Much of the preliminary work at the downtown site has already been completed, and the Police Department has already vacated the old police headquarters at 201 S. Barbour Street, which will be renovated as part of the project.

Construction is expected to take about a year.

The 19,000-sq.ft. brick building will feature lots of glass and high quality metal trim made of zinc. It's energy-efficient design makes extensive use of natural light and high-efficiency heating and cooling systems. A model of the complex is available for viewing at the Clayton Center.

Steve Schuster of design firm Clearscapes, PA, the new building's designer, said the structure, which includes extensive landscaping, should blend in nicely with other buildings in the area and add to the beauty of downtown.
Police are currently working out of a temporary headquarters at 9933 US 70W Business.

After years of planning, town officials decided to move ahead with the project after a report from Town Manager Steve Biggs warning that the town's highly regarded police force--which last year became one of the few law enforcement agencies in the country to earn full accreditation--was "bursting at the seams" in their old 5,000-sq.ft building.

"For the last few years, we've paid a lot of attention to our law enforcement personnel, and now we're at a point where we need to look at facilities," he told the Council.

Town officials have been working over the last few years to strengthen the police department, adding programs and capabilities as well as encouraging officers to obtain advanced training. As a result, the town has what Biggs described as "a first-rate police department."

Over the last couple of years, the department added a Forensics specialist, formed a Community Action Team (CAT), added several new Neighborhood Watch programs, added a new "Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) laser radar and scene mapping device," initiated the new "Crime Stoppers" program and several more officers earned their "Advanced Law Enforcement" certificates.

To view final plans for the new Law Enforcement Center, please click here Law Enforcement Center plans.