Task force votes to site Jonesboro E‑911 real‑time crime center on Washington Avenue

The City of Jonesboro Capital Improvement Bond Task Force voted to locate the new E‑911 real‑time crime center and associated police administration on the Washington Street property, a move supporters said would save the city money and reinforce downtown government presence.

The vote followed a motion to select the Washington Street site made and discussed during the task force meeting; the motion was seconded and carried on a roll call that recorded aye votes from Hafner, Street, Gibson and Councilman Moore. The task force meeting record shows five members were present earlier in the session but the roll call recorded these four ayes and the motion was declared approved.

Task force members framed the choice primarily as a financial and downtown‑planning decision. Councilman Moore said phase 1 on Washington Street would save taxpayers about $654,000 and that by the completion of phase 2 the city engineer's estimate put total savings at about $1,034,000. "This alone would be enough for me to vote for the Washington Street property," Councilman Moore said, adding the savings could be redirected to…