County tentatively signs off on joint peace officer center

March 29, 2011

Howard County commissioners gave a rather tentative nod Monday morning to move forward with a proposed joint law enforcement center that would house the sheriff's office and city police department, although several members admitted having reservations concerning the coming year's budget.

“If we are going to sit down with the city and work on this, I want some kind of considerable commitment — a real commitment — from the (commissioners) court,” County Judge Mark Barr said. “In other words, if you have a problem with it I'd like to know about it now before we sit down and hammer these details out. I know there are lots of unknowns, I realize that. But as far as the cost is concerned, right now it's steady... That's what I'm asking for, a reasonable commitment to move forward.”

Members of the Big Spring City Council recently held a meeting alongside Howard County commissioners to present the proposed center — which would be located at the newly built county jail, located on W. Highway 80 — to the public.

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