Freedom Center Update

In about six months from now, the Alliance Police Department will be moving into its new digs. The Freedom Center building will be completed in late December of 2002. As of now, the building project is under budget and ahead of schedule. Nice weather this past winter helped to move the project along.

If you drive north on Freedom from Broadway, you can see one of the reasons for the name "Freedom Center." The entryway to the new building is right smack dab in the center at the end of Freedom Avenue. When you come down to see the new building, you will also see a mirrored walkway connecting the new building with the old City Hall.

The mirrored walkway will connect on both the second and third floors of the old City Hall through the existing windows. No, you won't have to climb over the windowsills to get in the building. The wall below the windows will be removed and you'll be able to walk through just as slick as you please.

It is anticipated that the Clerk of Court will have offices on both the second and third floors of the old City Hall once the Police Department has moved into the new building. The second floor Clerk's office will handle primarily civil matters, such as people who want to pay fines. The third floor Clerk's office will deal with court-related issues. The courtroom will remain right where it is. Judge Lavery is currently seeking funds to do some renovations in his courtroom.

Various other moves will take place within the City Hall building, such as the Law Library moving to where Juvenile Probation is now (the old mayor's office to us old-timers). All in all, the City Hall building will contain the legal system of the city. Some renovations will of course be necessary to accomplish the moving around within the building.

If you take a good look at the new building you will see that the ground level portion is open and the building supported by columns. There's a reason for that. The police cruisers will be parked under the building in an enclosed area. They will enter from a soon to be built concrete driveway at the east end of the building. The arrangement makes for a much more secure area.

It also makes room for a 'sally-port'. Sally-port is a unique word coming from the French word 'saillie' which means something similar to "go forth." "Port" of course, means an opening or portal. (A little word trivia for you there.) Police officers, after making an arrest, drive their vehicles inside that secured area called a 'sally port'. The doors then close and the prisoners are brought inside for processing.

Also on the east-end, next to the Moose Club, will be a new sidewalk so that foot traffic can still get from Market to Main Street or anywhere in-between. Many thanks to the Moose Club for their understanding and cooperation in this venture. They have also provided some nice lunches for the construction crews.

The construction will be done and the furniture moved in by the end of December if all goes as planned. The city will host an open house so that residents can tour the facility. If you have questions, as usual you are welcome to call the mayor's office at 330-821-3110.