The long-awaited renovation of the Dickinson Law Enforcement Center is complete. The final finishing touch now hangs above the sheriff's office window.
The renovation was inspired by multiple needs including the security of the sheriff's office, creating more useable space as well as improving the aethetics of the building.
"The main concern I thought that needed to be addressed was to secure the service window to the sheriff's department," Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy said. "The public had accesss to the sheriff's office and the hallways while the other departments were all secure."
The new design gives the public access to the sheriff's department through a secured service window similar to that of the police department's.
"It's less crowded for the staff and less crowded for the public," Tuhy said.
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Another key feature to the renovation is the increase of useable space. More efficiency was made possible by a combination of the new stair design as well as a reconfiguration of the hallways, Tuhy said.
Previously, the stairs took up the bulk of the space in the foyer of the law enforcement center. With the new stair design, the LEC also got a new conference room.
"The stairway was put off to the side and designed with a conference room underneath," Tuhy said. "We now have a bigger conference room that can accommodate more people."
The conference room is for shared use among the sheriff's department, the Dickinson Police Department, the correctional center and emergency management.
"I'm very pleased with the way it turned out," Dickinson Police Chief Chuck Rummel said. "We have much more room. I can hold meetings with our entire supervisory staff. It's working very well for us.
"The lobby is a little bit smaller, but nothing really noticible because most of the space where that conference room is was wasted. The lobby, I feel has got sufficient room and any loss of space there is really not noticlbe with the renovation."
Another convenience created by the renovation was easier access to the restrooms for both the public and staff.
A third enhancement of the renovation is an improved look and easier upkeep for the floors.
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"New tile was put in," Tuhy said. "We had a wood and tile floor which needed major attention. That was replaced with ceramic tile for better upkeep, especially in high-traffic areas like the lobby."
With a project that was a couple years in the making, it is now complete.
"It's working out great," Tuhy said. "But all the entities in that building are running out of space."
