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County Invests In Downtown Glenwood Property
Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Zach Anderson - Starbuck Times New Editor   
Wednesday, 10 June 2009 16:05


Commissioner Gordy Wagner brought the proposal to the county board table last Tuesday. He said he's been in discussion with Garatoni about the property.

Wagner said, "We're looking at it because it's contiguous to the Human Service building, and other boards have looked at it in the past and for the first time, we have a chance to put our thumb on it."

Wagner said the property may help ease the parking crunch around the courthouse.

"It also may be one more option for the law enforcement center," he said.

Wagner and Commissioner Paul Gerde have convened a Law Enforcement Center (LEC) Committee that is looking into the feasibility of adding on to the courthouse's east side to expand the law enforcement center and potentially add holding cells.

"My complaint with building a new LEC is putting it on the hill. This way we can have a campus here in downtown," Wagner said.

Pope County already has a $3.4 million bond sitting in local banks designated for a new LEC. Commissioners who approved bonding in late 2008 indicated their intention to build a new LEC on property located on the north side of Glenwood, between state Highways 29 and 55.

However, three new commissioners have since been seated on the county board and no action has been taken to proceed on the new LEC construction. Instead, Wagner and Gerde have formed a committee to look into adding on to the courthouse.