By Susan Redden
sredden@joplinglobe.com
CARTHAGE, Mo. — Construction is to start next month on a new Missouri State Highway Patrol crime lab on a site just south of Carthage.
A contract for the project has been awarded to Federal Construction Inc., of Springfield, according to an announcement from the Missouri Office of Administration.
The state-run lab will be built on state-owned property near the Carthage satellite office for the Highway Patrol. Officials expect the new building to be completed by July, and ready for occupancy by the Highway Patrol’s Crime Laboratory Division, and the Division of Drug and Crime Control.
The building will house the state crime lab currently located on the Missouri Southern State University campus in Joplin. It also will address overcrowding issues with the local Drug and Crime Control unit housed in the Carthage satellite station.
The building is expected to be more secure, and to improve operating efficiencies for the patrol and for a number of area law enforcement agencies that use the regional crime lab.
An architect’s drawing of the 6,000-square-foot building was unveiled in July at the same time Gov. Jay Nixon came to Carthage to sign several pieces of legislation relating to crime and punishment. Local law enforcement officials at the event predicted that the new lab would translate to a faster analysis of some crime-scene information that now must go to either Jefferson city or Springfield.
Funds for the lab were allocated in 2008. Federal Construction, the successful contractor, submitted a bid of $890,627. State officials earlier had estimated costs in the range of $1.4 million.
The state initially announced plans to put the lab in part of the former McCune-Brooks Hospital building in central Carthage. Later, citing budget concerns, officials said the building would go on the state-owned property south of Carthage. Now, plans are in the works to transfer the former hospital building to the Carthage Water & Electric Plant, which will use part of the building for administrative and customer service offices.
Crews hired by CW&EP; are making roof repairs and other renovations. A memorandum of understanding to govern the building handoff has been endorsed by the CW&EP; board and forwarded to the Carthage City Council. Review by the council is set for Tuesday night.
