Discussions surrounding the future location of the Nitro Police Department dominated Tuesday night's Nitro City Council meeting.
Following a closed-door executive session, council members passed a motion to authorize negotiating purchasing terms for a new police department building.
"We will take an engineer with us and see what would have to be done to the building and assess that cost," Nitro Mayor Dave Casebolt said. "Then we can determine how much we can pay for the building."
There is a potential for a council chamber at the building, Casebolt said. But he would not discuss any further specifics about the building.
The city pays $31,800 annually in rent to Kingsway Church for the building where the police department, city council chambers, municipal court and the senior center are located.
"Everyone on council agrees we need to move out," Casebolt said.
Nitro City Attorney Johnnie Brown amended the city's proposed lease agreement to allow the city to defer the lease terms within six days of signing.
Brown wanted the city to have that option if it is needed.
Nitro Police Chief Steve Walker is eager for the move.
"Right now there is very little security for the police department, municipal court and for City Council when they are in here," Walker said. "We have outgrown the usefulness of this building and the city has been looking for several years for another option."
Also on Tuesday, City Council members moved forward with a World War I Memorial Park project on Second Avenue after passing a resolution to accept a $60,000 grant match from the Federal Land and Resource grant.
The 4 to 3 vote was reached after council members went back and forth on how best to utilize the piece of property on Second Avenue. Council members Brenda Tyler, Andy Shamblin and Laurie Elkins voted against the project.
The park project aims to connect future generations to Nitro's World War I legacy.
Casebolt believes its one of the most exciting city projects.
No council members disagreed with the idea of a memorial park, just its location at Second Avenue, and wanted to explore if there were better ways to utilize the property for continued pressing city needs.
In other business, council:
n Approved meeting minutes from Dec. 15 and Dec. 28
n Set the terms and conditions for the sale of city property valued at less than $10,000
n Approved opening request for bids on drainage issues on the city's east end
n Announced documents for running in the upcoming municipal election will be accepted in the city recorder's office March 14 - March 25 at 4 p.m.