While reports indicated the Elizabethton Police Department would move to Ritchies’ warehouse in downtown Elizabethton, the police force could possibly be en route to a new location.
The Elizabethton City Council convenes tonight with a relatively short agenda list, but the list includes the future of the EPD’s facility.
During the 2015-16 fiscal year budget, councilmen approved the preliminary design for future renovations and additions for the department and approved an agreement to move the police facility within the Ritchies’ facility.
But recent findings but the Elizabethton Airport Commission noted that the terminal building known as the Moody School had sufficient surplus space that could be used by the city – noting a significant portion of space could be used for a police facility.
Current findings indicated that the cost to remodel the airport facility would cost $2,835,760 with $425,000 of that being allocated to the airport, only netting a cost of $2,410,760. The renovations of the Ritchies’ facility and current police department building is pegged at $2,677,306 – saving an excess of $266,000. The airport would pay for the needed repairs and HVAC that will be needed no matter where the department is placed on the airport’s property.
With the plans moving ahead, the City of Elizabethton is now looking at the intangibles moving forward.
According to information provided from City Hall, city officials will look to approve an agreement with Reedy & Sykes Architecture and Design to provide service for renovations at the Elizabethton Municipal Airport for a cost of $138,000.
The idea of the study would allow architects to map out the necessary process of allowing the EPD and airport to share a building on the airport’s property.
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In other new business, councilmen will look to approve the acceleration of financing the current fiscal year approved capital program in order to couple in with a refinancing of existing bonds sold in 2008 and 2010.
Also on the new business side of things, a pair of housekeeping items for the Bonnie Kate renovations will be on the table for first readings.
City officials will look to amend the 2016-17 budget appropriations for the Bonnie Kate Fund along with looking at another reading to begin the process of purchasing the parking lot adjacent to the Bonnie Kate.
Rounding out the new business includes an approval of an interlocal agreement between the Elizabethton and Johnson City Fire Departments.
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In old business, second readings will be held to amend the Elizabethton City Schools budget appropriations from the 2015-16 school year and a revision of the revision of Title 11, Section 11-102.
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Tonight’s City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.