County, city joint meeting Monday

February 26, 2011

Howard County commissioners and members of the Big Spring City Council will hold a joint meeting Monday to discuss possible plans to house the sheriff's office and police department at the newly-built County Jail, a move officials from both sides say could help streamline both law enforcement agencies.

The possibility of consolidating some of the services offered by both agencies — the two departments would remain autonomous from one another, but share departments such as dispatch and record keeping — came into the public eye in January, when Big Spring City Manager Gary Fuqua informed the council talks between the two governments were under way.

“As you know, we've set aside $1.7 million for renovations to the (Troy Hogue Law Enforcement Center),” Fuqua told the council. “In the meantime, the county is looking at moving the Sheriff's Office from its current location in the county courthouse to the new jail.

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