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Police station work begins

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

A much-needed, modern police station is in the works and should be ready for occupancy in April 2009, according to Don Hollingsworth, director of public works in Holly Springs.

The station will be located in the old Williams Medical Building off J.M. Ash Drive on the south side of town.

Contractors began gutting the building November 1 and will reconfigure the floor plan and build a sally port off the existing structure at a total cost of just under $1 million, he said. A quarter million dollars for the renovation of the building is coming from a small municipal grant, the rest to be paid off with general obligation bonds, he said.

Johnson Bailey/Henderson McNeel of Southaven is the architectural firm handling the design.

The building will have modern security features and an antenna will be placed at the site. The city will operate two other communication antennas, one on the water tower and one at the Information Technology Center on Highway 311, to provide total city coverage for law enforcement, fire and emergency workers.

Mayor Andre’ DeBerry said the police station facilities have been long needed.

“For a number of years, we’ve just been making do,” he said. “This will allow us to have a state-of-the-art facility that is a complement to the staff we have.”

He believes the new modern facility will help with morale on the police force and ultimately help in fighting crime.

“Our departments need a place to work in a safe and decent environment,” DeBerry said. “Plus, our growth is in that direction, and this will help us better cover the entire city.”

The facility will do a lot for improving the image of the city, he said.

“People look at offices like the fire department and police department and take a read on your community,” DeBerry said. “These are vital services that our people need.”

Given the city has been renting its police headquarters for a number of years, he said the investment in the new headquarters is a sound one for the people of the city.

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