W.Va. official pushes for new 911/sheriff's building

April 22, 2005|by DAVE MCMILLION

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Corliss pushed Thursday for construction of a new Jefferson County Sheriff's Department and 911 center outside of the city, saying the county will not have any room for new government office space downtown until the sheriff's department is moved.

Corliss said the building, which would house both operations, would cost about $9.3 million, would have about 35,000 square feet of space and would be beside the Jefferson County Health Department along Wiltshire Road in Bardane, W.Va.

The commissioners have studied ways to create new government office space downtown and Corliss said Thursday he has been told that the county might have to make room for another circuit court within eight years.

"I think the needs are laid out," Corliss said.

The other commissioners had concerns about the issue.

Commissioner Dale Manuel said he would like to have more time to study priorities of the county's building needs.

Corliss responded by saying the commissioners have been studying the issue for 11/2 years.

Commission President Rusty Morgan said he would like to find out how the West Virginia State Police see their presence in the county in coming years.

Morgan said he wants to know if the state police will increase or decrease operations in the county before the county spends money on such a facility.

Although Corliss wanted the commissioners to seek an architect to give them a proposed design on the building, he agreed to hold off on discussing the matter further until next week.

New space is being considered for the two departments because county officials say the sheriff's department's location along West Washington Street in Charles Town is not a good one and the 911 center, which is in the health department building, is running out of space.

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