Early Tuesday morning, Mayor James Sanders and Police Chief Ross Thompson sat down with architect Todd Welch and Nabholz senior project manager Adam Seiter to look over the schematic designs for the new Justice Complex. Welch reported that some changes had been made from the last plans that were reviewed and that the schematic designs were a little more detailed than what they would normally be. The extra detail will be more efficient for Seiter to give a more accurate price range for the project.
Welch reviewed the facilities plans with Thompson and Sanders for potential edits they felt needed to be made. Thompson suggested a few edits, including the addition of a half wall to block full visibility of certain areas from the lobby, the possibility of making the bathroom in the main lobby a smaller unisex bathroom instead of two gender-specific bathrooms for additional room elsewhere and other small edits.
Chief financial officer John Callens was also in attendance at the meeting. While discussing alternatives for overlaying the facility's parking lot, Callens mentioned the possibility of a rubber compound mix that had been used elsewhere in Missouri. Callens stated that Blytheville Public Works director Mark Key could provide Seiter with additional information.
The building's roof is still under warranty from a previous replacement before the city purchased the building. All additions to the facility will be given the same bitumen roof to match the original facility.
Welch stated that the schematic designs would be completed in one week's time and after that Nabholz should have an initial budget in approximately three weeks. Seiter stated that he believed construction would begin in mid-August and, if things remained on schedule, the project would be completed in approximately one year's time.
gwilliams@blythevillecourier.com