roswell vote to determine fate of proposed public safety complex

City officials in Roswell, New Mexico are hoping that long-held plans to build a new public safety complex will soon turn into reality.

For years, the current Roswell Police Department headquarters has been deemed too small, too outdated, and not in keeping with national standards.

That structure is located at 128 W. 2nd Street and was formerly the home office for the First Interstate Bank.

Now, members of the Roswell City Council have given the green light to putting on an upcoming ballot a question asking voters to approve a bond to fund construction of a new station.

That $35 million bond will pay for what is being called a public safety complex, which will also include a headquarters for the Roswell Fire Department, as well as a public safety dispatch office.

The new complex will additionally house new courtroom space for the Municipal Court of the City of Roswell, which currently operates out of a more than 60 year-old building burdened with a number of structural issues.

Noting that it could cost as much as $10 million to upgrade both the city’s police and fire department headquarters, Roswell officials believe building a new public safety complex will be more cost-effective all the way around.

The new complex could also help the city in the area of staff retention: City Manager Joe Neeb was quoted in the Roswell Daily Record as saying, “We are hoping that the investment that goes into that facility will help hold onto the quality employees who are serving in that public safety field.”

The bond election is scheduled for March 3.

By Garry Boulard

---