Bixby Police Department renovation doubling its floor space
BY ZACK STOYCOFF World Staff Writer
Friday, October 19, 2012
10/19/12 at 7:29 AM
BIXBY - The city's police officers will have room to stretch their legs when the Police Department moves to a recently renovated floor of City Hall later this year.
The second-floor renovation of the building at 116 W. Needles Ave. gives the department about 50 percent more floor space, Police Chief Ike Shirley said.
Officers are sharing the first floor with city personnel, communications personnel, the city jail and a fire station, and they often sit two or more to an office, he said.
"This will be kind of a morale boost to our officers," Shirley said. "It's kind of difficult to do our jobs right now with the facilities we have. We've got very cramped quarters."
Funded by part of a $10 million bond proposal from 2011, the renovation reinforced the two-story building's walls to ensure structural integrity, particularly on the top floor.
It also expanded restrooms and included cosmetic updates for the second floor as well as the downstairs City Council Chamber and municipal courtroom.
City Council meetings have been held in an alternate room during the renovation.
"It was a pretty extensive renovation," Mayor Ray Bowen said.
Shirley said the second floor will contain briefing and evidence rooms, as well as enough offices for unrelated units to work in separate spaces.
"Right now, you've got different people in the same office, so when you're doing interviews and reports and things like that, it's very difficult for them to do their job," he said.
The city has bought about $33,000 worth of chairs, tables and cabinets and expects to have the second floor ready by the end of the year.
"We've already started moving a few things upstairs," Shirley said. "We're hoping in the next 30 to 60 days we'll be able to make the transition."
Officials began preparing this month for the next renovation project aimed at freeing room on the first floor.
Work would focus on the Dawes Building immediately south of City Hall, where the city hopes to move a portion of its staff offices at some point.
Some offices are already there.
"Again, just expanding," Bowen said.
"We've got two (city staff members) in an office, and we just need to ... allow more office space for the people who are there."
City Engineer Jared Cottle said the city is seeking an architect to develop a master plan for the Dawes Building.
The city previously rented the space to businesses, but the last tenant left recently, he said.
Original Print Headline: Thin blue line to spread out
Zack Stoycoff 918-581-8486
zack.stoycoff@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Police Chief Ike Shirley stands in the interview room on the second floor of Bixby City Hall, which was recently renovated to allow the Police Department to expand from its downstairs offices. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Bixby Police Officer Harrell Kendrick opens a storage cubicle in the renovated property room. Funded by part of a $10 million bond proposal from 2011, the renovation reinforced the two-story building's walls to ensure structural integrity. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Bixby Police Chief Ike Shirley stands in the hallway on the renovated second floor of City Hall. The updated facility is "kind of a morale boost to our officers," Shirley said. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
An officer locker room is one of the amenities on the second floor of Bixby's City Hall. The renovation also included expanded restrooms as well as updates for the downstairs City Council Chamber and municipal courtroom. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
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