A visit to Waco's Information Technology Department or the Waco-McLennan County Emergency Management Office illustrates why the city council Tuesday night approved a bid for up to $1.5 million dollars in renovations to the old Waco Police Department Headquarters.
Both agencies will move into the top floor of that building once the renovations are complete and their leadership couldn't be happier.
"It's very exciting for us," I.T. Director James Brown said. "Our staffers are very excited about the opportunity to move over there."
Assistant Emergency Management Coordinator Sean Taylor agrees.
"Couldn't be more excited. We're just ready to get into our new building," Taylor said.
That will take some time.
Renovations could get started as early as December, but they won't likely be complete until July at the earliest.
In the meantime the two departments will have to continue operating from their subterranean locations. The emergency management center is in the basement of Waco City Hall. The I.T. Department is under the Waco Convention Center.
The basement location of the emergency management center creates a potential problem for the agency. Should the Brazos River see major flooding, water could get into the very facility that holds the people trying to manage the disaster.
"In a flooding event we expect to be working in here, not to have to be evacuated from here obviously," Taylor said.
McLennan County is also contributing $400,000 to the renovations.
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