[November 19, 2009] Police to delay plan to remodel: The timing of the project ? coming after officers were laid off ? attracted criticism. Tweet Nov 19, 2009 (Tulsa World - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Police Chief Ron Palmer is putting on hold a remodeling project for the chiefs' section of the Tulsa Police Department, he said Wednesday. Palmer said his decision comes as a result of a Tulsa World editorial Wednesday that criticized the timing of the bid opening for the remodeling project. Even though the project had been planned before any layoffs were considered, he said, "it makes sense to put it on hold." Two days before Mayor Kathy Taylor announced that 37 city employees, including 21 police officers, would be laid off, the city opened five bids for the remodeling work, ranging from about $54,000 to about $93,000. "I probably shouldn't be spending the money even though I have it available to me and it can't be used for salaries," Palmer said. But, he said, the perception by at least some people that the money could be used to pay salaries "is enough reason to put the project on hold." "Perception can be reality," he said. The money for the remodeling comes from asset forfeitures, which legally can't be used for salaries. Of the 21 police officers who were laid off, 18 were rehired through the use of federal stimulus funds. The Fraternal Order of Police continues to raise money to assist the three officers who remain laid off. The part of police headquarters that was slated for remodeling houses the offices of Palmer and Deputy Chiefs Mark McCrory, Dennis Larsen and Daryl Webster, along with the department's legal adviser and secretaries. An engineer's total estimate for the project is $47,357 -- a base amount of $42,107 with the rest for additional options. The low bid for the work is $53,986 -- a base amount of $50,986 and the rest for additional options. The Police Department's headquarters are in a 40-year-old building between the Tulsa County Courthouse and the Tulsa Convention Center downtown. The last remodel of the area was completed in the 1990s. The work would have moved the deputy chiefs' offices closer together to ensure that personnel are well-positioned, officials have said. The work would have included removing and erecting walls, installing new carpet, painting and doing sprinkler work, according to project documents. The only furniture that might have been purchased would have been for a conference room. "Putting this project on hold is no big deal," Palmer said Wednesday. He said the reconfiguration was planned because of the relocation of the 911 center and information technology employees. P.J. Lassek 581-8382 [email protected] To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com. Copyright (c) 2009, Tulsa World, Okla. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]