The presentation by Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn to the Caddo Commission’s Long Range Planning Committee raised many questions. (See article below for background information)
Here is a list that most likely is incomplete:
1. Have other buildings been reviewed TO RENT to replace the North Market substation versus BUY a building for the substation
2. If the Parish pays 50% of the $5.5 million purchase price for the former auto dealership, who will own the building—the Parish solely or the Parish and the Caddo Parish Sheriff Office
3. Will the Sheriff or the Parish pay for the cost of relocating the substation to a new location, either rented or purchased, and what is the cost estimate for relocation
4. Why should the Parish pay for 50% of the renovations needed at the auto facility which are estimated to be $1.7 million
5. Will the Sheriff pay for utilities, insurance, cleaning etc. at the auto facility if it is purchased
6. The Sheriff offered to pay for maintenance for 4 years at the auto facility. How did he determine 4 years, what is his definition of “maintenance” and what is this estimated expense
7. The Parish owns Caddo Correctional Center, the Caddo Courthouse, the Caddo Juvenile Justice Center, the former regional lab building on Creswell, the Walter B. Jacobs Nature Park, the Bickham Building, and other buildings. Can the Parish afford to maintain this auto facility on a long-term basis along with the buildings the Parish currently owns
8. The Sheriff advised the Committee that there are problematic issues with the auto facility. What are these, and if the owners do not correct prior to the proposed sale, what are the estimated cost and who will pay these costs-- the Sheriff or the Parish
The Long-Term Planning Committee will meet soon to further review the Sheriff’s proposal. It would be helpful to all if the information identified above was provided, in writing and released to the public, before the next committee meeting.
SHOULD CADDO PARISH SPEND $2.75 MILLION TO BUY FORMER CAR DEALERSHIP WITH CADDO SHERIFF
It’s a long story that will be explained in a future column.
The skinny is that Caddo Sheriff Henry Whitehorn wants Caddo Parish to purchase with his office a former car dealership in the Shreveport auto mall. The appraised price is $5.8 million, and it can be purchased for $5.5 million. The Sheriff will pay 50% of the purchase price.
This location would replace the two Sheriff substations at 4910 North Market and 1501 Corporate Drive. The planned purchase is the former Yokum Mitsubishi campus at 8750 Business Park Drive. It is a 42,750 square-foot facility.
Currently the Parish leases the two substation locations for the Sheriff. The Parish must provide office space/facilities for the Caddo DA, the Coroner, the Registrar of Voters, Clerk of Court and the Sheriff.
Many details must be fleshed out before the Caddo Commission can make a final determination. The Sheriff offered to pay the maintenance costs for the first four years. Other issues that must be resolved include ownership of the facility—the Parish solely or the Parish and the Sheriff Office. The Sheriff indicated that certain renovations would be needed although he did not say if his office would pay the costs.
More to come on this issue.