Warner Robins Mayor Chuck Shaheen took his first tour of the long- awaited, new law enforcement center Wednesday.
He says it's on time for a January 2013 completion date.
Two years ago, Mayor Chuck Shaheen envisioned what's taking shape at the corner of Watson Boulevard and Armed Forces Boulevard. Finally, he can touch it and see it becoming a reality.
Shaheen said, "This is the first site you'll see if this is your first time to Warner Robins. You see a beautiful looking building."
It's far from finished, but the shell is in place, and crews have started installing the duct work.
Shaheen says the LEC is the first building project for the city since 1972, when City Hall was built. He said 100 Watson Boulevard is also the location where the first Warner Robins Police Department was built in 1951.
Architect for JMA Architecture Jim Mehserle says the new police department is a major step-up from the current one on South Young Avenue. That facility is outdated, leaking and officers are cramped for space.
Mehserle said, "We have been able to really work on each department and their efficiency, and maximize that within the square footage of the building."
The new law enforcement center is 42,000 square feet and two stories.
The public entrance, records division, evidence storage, patrol unit and secure sally port for booking suspects will be located on the first floor.
Standing in the sally port, Mehserle said, "These are roll down doors, and they shut these doors. When they get the suspect out of the car, the suspect doesn't have anywhere to run."
He also pointed to four kennels built for K9s, saying, "That's a new feature for our department."
Currently, K9s wait in their handler's patrol car while the officers go inside the police station. The kennels will have indoor and outdoor access, with air conditioning inside.
On the second story, a forensics lab covers the majority of the floor. There is also space for the police administration and detectives.
Shaheen asked, "When are they going to put the roof on this?"
Mehserle said that should happen in about 30 days.
Shaheen said the cost of site-work and the building construction will total about $8 million dollars. In addition, he said the city paid about $750,000 for the lot.
The mayor said he and City Attorney Jim Elliott went to Atlanta this week to close on a $4.4 million dollar bond, to finance the new law enforcement center. That money will be repaid from penny sales tax revenues collected during the next four years.
Shaheen said in addition to the $4.4 million from the 2012 SPLOST, $5 million came from the 2006 SPLOST to pay for the building.