Winamac eyes downtown building for police station

A more centralized location and additional space are just a few reasons the Winamac Town Council are eying a downtown building. 
During a special session on Nov. 22, the Winamac council toured a building that could be a potential site for a new police station. The idea of a new police station has been discussed the last few weeks. 
Town manager Brad Zellers said he spoke with police chief Mike Buchanan who is in favor of purchasing the building. Buchanan was unable to attend the meeting because he was participating in training.  
The interior of the building would need to be completed along with removing four trees from the property. Zellers estimated the tree removal to be about $1,200 and an additional $50,000-$60,000 for the interior work of which a majority could be done by town employees. 
Town council president Tom Murray questioned where the funding to purchase the building would come from. 
Town clerk-treasurer Melanie Berger said there are a couple of different funds that could be used to pay for the purchasing of the building and the interior work. 
Murray said he thinks the town should offer less money for the building. 
A motion was approved to make an offer to purchase the building. Town attorney Justin Schramm said further details regarding the sale can be discussed in an executive session. Murray opposed the motion. 
A motion was also approved to use money from the cumulative capital development fund and the cumulative capital improvement fund to purchase the building.