Neosho breaks ground on long-awaited public safety center to replace aging facilities

Neosho officials broke ground Wednesday on a new Public Safety Center that will bring the city’s police and fire departments under one roof, replacing aging facilities that officials say no longer meet the needs of either department.

The single-story facility will be built on city-owned property near East Coler and North Washington streets, about a block and a half north of the Historic Neosho Square.

City Manager David Kennedy said the project has been years in the making and addresses problems police officers and firefighters face in their current facilities.

“This is something that, honestly, is a long time coming,” Kennedy said. “Our public safety had a lot of needs, and they’re both in inadequate facilities currently.”

The new center will include shared spaces for the police and fire departments, a design the city estimates will save about $1.5 million compared with constructing two separate facilities.

Kennedy said one of the limitations of the current buildings is a lack of space for training. When additional room is needed, departments sometimes have to look elsewhere in the community.

“If they need extra training space, they’ll try to find a space around town,” Kennedy said. “Honestly, they don’t do a whole lot of hosting classes because they just don’t have the space to do it.”

City officials also expect the new facility to improve coordination between police and fire while providing a modern workspace capable of serving Neosho as the community continues to grow.

Kennedy said the investment could also help Neosho recruit police officers and firefighters in the future.

“Your officers, your firemen, they are looking for these communities that show that they’re going to invest in their public safety,” Kennedy said.

It should be completed by Spring of 2028.

Kennedy thanked residents and the City Council for supporting the project and emphasized that the new center is intended to address existing public safety needs rather than simply provide a newer building.

“This wasn’t just a groundbreaking ceremony,” Kennedy said. “This was truly a need for our city, for our community, for our public safety.”