Construction crews continue to make headway on Senoia’s new police department and municipal court building on Howard Road. The $1.3 million facility is expected to open for business in late spring.

An adjustment to the building plans in April for the 7,325 square-foot building increased the size to 8,310 square feet. The move came with a unanimous vote by the City Council. The revised plans provide space to accommodate 80 people in the courtroom, based on recommendations from JMA Architectures Interiors Planning representative Marion Repeta.

The complex will be situated on approximately three acres on Howard Road near the city’s ball fields. The land was purchased from Southern Mills in 2008 for $232,000. The project is being funded largely through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

A question arose at the April meeting over whether increasing the size of the municipal court portion of the building would compromise the projected cost of the project that had been previously estimated at $1.3 million. Mayor Robert Belisle said he believed the project could stay within budget, noting that the downturn in building activity due to the recession that has led to lower costs with many of the region’s building projects.

The city council in February adopted a resolution allowing the project to move forward with a funding mechanism through Georgia Municipal Association’s (GMA) Brick and Mortar Program. Through the program, GMA essentially purchases the property, constructs the building and leases it to the city. Once the building is paid off, GMA signs it back over to the city.

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