Jonesboro task force weighs police, 911 center sites after Justice Complex damage

The Jonesboro Capital Improvement Bond Task Force discussed whether to site a new police department headquarters and an emergency 911 center at the Justice Complex on Washington or at a Carraway Road property after officials said structural damage forced the Justice Complex to close for inspection.

The issue arose after Councilman John Street asked the task force for a cost‑benefit comparison of the two sites and for estimates to demolish existing improvements and fix drainage at the Washington site. “I just want to see if anybody would look or had looked at a cost benefit analysis,” Street said, asking specifically about demolition costs, drainage fixes and room for future expansion.

That information became more urgent after a city staff member, Brian, told the task force the Justice Complex had been shut after damage was found during a routine inspection. “We’ve had a situation at the Justice Complex on Washington, and y’all know that it’s currently closed,” Brian said. He said immediate bracing was underway, that an insurance investigator had been asked to inspect whether the damage was weather related, and that estimates were being compiled to determine whether repairs were practical.

Why it matters: Bond funds previously authorized include money for an E‑911 center; engineering and drainage constraints and the scale of repairs at Washington will strongly affect whether the city repairs the Justice Complex or pursues construction at an alternative site. Mr. Richardson clarified the planned 911 center’s size and budget are fixed in current plans: “the proposed $5,300,000 and change” for the 9‑1‑1 center, he said, and that its square footage would not shrink depending on site.

Discussion highlights

- Cost and scope analysis requested: Councilman John Street urged the task force to obtain engineering and cost estimates comparing the Washington site and the Carraway Road site, including demolition and drainage work, and to report how much excess land each site would leave for future growth.

- Structural damage and immediate steps: Brian (staff member) said immediate bracing and a structural examination were underway at the Justice Complex; an insurance investigator was asked to inspect the damage. The mayor and staff said they were coordinating accommodations for court staff displaced by the closure.

- Drainage and flood risk: City staff and an engineer (Craig) said parts of Washington Street and the Justice Complex parking area flood during heavy rainfall. Craig noted a 2007 study recommended upgrading downtown’s underground drainage and downstream conveyance and that resolving downtown drainage could require upstream detention; he said the extent of work needed must be determined by new engineering analysis. One staff member said previous recommendations called for about 5 acres of upstream detention that were not feasible then.

- Police department space and parking: Jonesboro’s police chief argued the Washington site would not meet long‑term needs. “My concerns are the property on Washington will not be adequate for the future,” the chief said, urging the task force to build for 15–30 years of growth and to keep functions under one roof if possible. The chief also raised parking concerns if low ground were converted to a retention pond.

- Possible phased or combined approach: Council members and staff discussed options including leaving the motor pool at its current location and building a smaller combined administrative, police and 911 facility on the high ground at Washington, or building on Carraway Road and retaining the motor pool. Council members emphasized updated spatial studies and cost estimates should guide any decision.

Public comment and other details

- Patty Lack of Forest Hill Road suggested other existing city properties and a building on Congress Circle be considered and urged caution about purchasing Carraway property because of acquisition costs and seller conditions. “I think that would be a better choice than being on Carraway,” she said, referring to using space on Washington.

- Financial and timeline notes: A staff member said roughly $261,000 remained from proceeds tied to the Citizens Bank building; Mr. Richardson emphasized the $5.3 million cost estimate for the 911 center remained unchanged regardless of site. Staff said engineering and civil planning work would be needed to provide the cost comparisons and that the task force would reconvene once those analyses were complete.

What the task force decided

No formal decision was made. The committee asked staff and retained engineers to produce: (1) engineering and cost estimates comparing the Washington Justice Complex site and the Carraway Road site (including demolition, drainage fixes and parking), and (2) a revised spatial analysis showing required building size and potential for future expansion if the motor pool remains in place. The task force will set a follow‑up meeting after those materials are available.

Ending

The meeting closed after the task force agreed to await engineering reports and cost estimates before making a site recommendation. The task force approved minutes from its prior meeting and then opened a public‑comment period in which the points above were raised.