The Oak Ridge North City Council unanimously approved the design and cost of a relocation and addition to the city’s police department building during its regular March 28 meeting.

According to city documents, the cost for relocating and expanding the existing building is $275,557. According to Tom Libby, Oak Ridge North chief of police, the expansion will allow room for six new officers in the future. In addition, the expansion will include an additional restroom and a larger conference room. City officials could not confirm a timeline on the relocation and expansion.

As previously reported by Community Impact Newspaper, the police department will relocate to the future public works facility, which is expected to be located at the end of Spectrum Way, according to city officials. The council said the new location will keep the department away from construction during the Robinson Road realignment. In addition, city officials said the police department relocation to the east side of the railroad tracks would not affect officer patrols.

The council approved additional police department-related items, which include the purchase of four ballistic shields for patrol cars and the sale of 42 surplus handguns to Spring Guns & Ammo.

Also during the meeting, the council continued discussions on designs for a larger LED city sign, which is located at the corner of Patsy Lane and Robinson Road. The city will pay for the upgraded entrance using federal grant funds provided by the American Rescue Plan Act. The council is waiting to receive additional design renderings before approving the final design.