At Monday night’s Leitchfield City Council meeting, Mike Carroll, of architect firm Brandstetter Carroll, presented an option for a new police department headquarters as councilmembers consider alternatives to using the old Rite Aid building for a combined Leitchfield Police Department headquarters and Leitchfield City Hall.
The proposed 8,100 square foot building would cost approximately $2 million to build, not including the cost of purchasing land and other financial considerations related to plumbing and electrical installations in a new building.
The reason for the presentation is due to Mayor Rick Embry not wanting to utilize the old Rite Aid building, which the city has already purchased for $2.85 million, for police headquarters.
Potentially complicating the construction of a new, standalone police department headquarters is that the $5 million General Obligation Bond previously approved by the council can only be used for a municipal building, a standard not met by a standalone police department headquarters, according to City Attorney Dennis Fentress.
Carroll again presented his firm’s floor plan for the old Rite Aid building, which included 7,500 square feet dedicated to a new City Hall and 8,200 square feet for LPD headquarters.
The major difference in the firm’s presentation in December regarding the Rite Aid building, and Monday night’s presentation, was a sally port entryway which would be added to one side of the existing building.
The renovation of the interior of the 14,500 square feet Rite Aid structure has been previously estimated to cost less than $2 million.
No decisions were made by the council, as the presentation was for informational purposes.
Editor’s note: The article has been amended to include that the General Obligation Bond approved by the council can only be used for a municipal building.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com or 270-259-6000
