New police office moves forward

KAMLOOPS — The North Shore is another step closer to getting a new $1.5 million community policing office, though the agreement still needs to be finalized and it will be almost two years before the new office will open.

The city opted for a money saving plan, opting to purchase and renovate an existing building at a cost of $1.55 million instead of following in the footsteps of Prince George and Kelowna in building new at an estimated cost of $50 million.

Residents apparently agreed with the plan. Not a single resident registered a concern with the borrowing bylaw through the alternative approval process.

Coun. Pat Wallace hopes people will join in the celebration of having a 'lovely new facility' when it opens, which is expected in January 2016.

The next step for the city is to finalize the deal, which should take about 4-6 weeks, and then the current owner, Kia, will lease the building for a year while they build a new dealership next door at the old Kamloops Ford location. The city will take possession next spring at which point renovations will begin.

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