County Responds to Council Vote
By: Nadia Bashir
Updated: August 26, 2009
Allen County Commissioner Nelson Peters says the county has two deal breakers when it comes to the citys move to 200 E. Berry Street. Last night Fort Wayne City Council approved the $14.5 million dollar purchase of 200 E. Berry in a 6 to 3 vote.
Peters says the county needs one of two things. Either the Sheriff and Fort Wayne Police must be housed under one roof or the city and county must continue a significant financial relationship through tenancy or building ownership, although ownership is not a requirement. If one of those two things does not occur, Peters says it is a deal breaker for the county.
Housing both police departments under one roof would save $2.4 million dollars in moving costs. Peters says the county would consider renting space from the city at 200 E. Berry Street in order to have the two departments under one roof. If both parties rent from each other after the move Peters estimates the county could maintain a net profit of $8 million dollars in revenue from rent over a 20-year period.
The citys current lease with the county for the City-County Building expires at the end of next year. The two have shared the building for nearly 40 years.
