The Buckley Police Department took its first steps toward expanding space for police operations and the jail’s work release program, but plans are moving forward cautiously to accommodate the building code.

City Council members voted unanimously June 29 to approve the lease of a White River School District building across from the police station on Cedar Street. The agreement included an option to purchase the building in the future.

“It will probably be our operations that will move to the new building,” Police Chief Jim Arsanto said shortly after the council approval. “That includes patrol, investigations and IT and records. Those departments are all currently working out of a 500 square foot space on the top floor of the department building.”

It’s envisioned that the Buckley jail’s work release program would move into the vacated space, Arsanto said.

Following the lease approval vote, the council voted to allow architectural firm Calvin Jordan and Associates to investigate potential building features that the city building department had predicted could preclude a jail expansion.

CJ&A confirmed that the code issues held enough weight to prevent an expansion of jail facilities as-is. Issues include a lack of a sprinkler system in that portion of the police department building.

Company representatives will meet with Arsanto at 10 a.m. today, Wednesday, to discuss options.