By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
While the City of Great Bend was working with the architect and contractor last week to resolve issues with the north parking lot and the entrances to the new Justice Center, the Great Bend Police Department and Municipal Court staff were settling into the roughly $9 million facility.
The first court proceedings occurred last week at the new structure located at the intersection of 12th Street and Baker Avenue, and City Administrator Brandon Anderson is hopeful to have a dedication soon to name the court after longtime city attorney Bob Suelter.
With the move taken place, Anderson told the Great Bend City Council it is time to evaluate the old police station on Williams Street.
"On our January 2 meeting, we'll recess from City Hall, and do a tour of the old PD," said Anderson. "We'll do a walk through as a council to see what we're dealing with. That's what we said we'd do once the police moved out. We'll assess that building."
Last summer, the city revealed possible plans to use the old police station, next to City Hall, for office space for the inspection, code enforcement and public lands departments. The city council will tour the old police station during their meeting on Jan. 2.
The police station on Williams was built in 1938 and has approximately 7,500 square feet. The Justice Center is 20,100 square feet.