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Latest Tonganoxie police station search part of multi-year saga

By Shawn Linenberger - | Aug 12, 2015

Discussions likely will continue at Monday’s Tonganoxie City Council regarding a future site for the Tonganoxie police station.

It’s a debate that has endured several peaks and valleys the last few years.

The department moved in February 2012 from its longtime home on the northeast corner of Fourth and Delaware to a space across the street to the west after concerns of mold and water in the basement, an ongoing issue in the building.

The department moved into the former Kansas Firearms Specialties space at 328 Delaware on a month-to-month basis, utilities included. The 2,000-square-foot space is part of a building, owned by Calvin Quisenberry, with five other tenants.

More than three years later, the Tonganoxie City Council continues to look for what it deems to be the right solution.

After looking at several sites throughout Tonganoxie, the city appeared to secure the former Everlasting Specialties building at 725 Laming Road for a turn-key price of $875,000.

However, in June 2012, police Chief Jeff Brandau told the council he viewed negotiations to be at an impasse and the search started anew. The county since has targeted the building for its new annex offices, which currently are up the street at U.S. Highway 24-40 and Laming.

Coucil members worked with community leaders to establish an infrastructure committee to evaluate the city’s facility needs and whether various partnerships could be made in building a new city building. The committee looked at sites near the Tonganoxie Fire Department and at Third and Main streets — both city properties — for a new structure.

The current Cornerstone Family Worship at Sixth and Church, with square footage of 6,000, also has become a popular option among the chief and other officers. After numerous meetings, both of the council and infrastructure, the council recently approved moving forward with an existing building for the new police department, but did not specify the building.

At the council’s last meeting on Aug. 3, city officials mentioned that there was another building that was on the council’s radar, but did not disclose the location.

The next day, Ben Robbins, whose family owns Midwest Carpet Center at 621 E. Fourth St., said his family had since given the city permission to discuss the option publicly.

That building covers about 7,700 square feet on about a half-acre. It also is adjacent to the city property at Third and Main.

The business is looking to relocate to a site closer to U.S. Highway 24-40 for more exposure, Robbins said last week.

Monday’s council meeting is 7 p.m. in council chambers, 321 Delaware.