by William Crum
The state Department of Corrections has backed out from a proposal to put a state parole office in the Argentine area, Unified Government commissioners learned tonight at a standing committee meeting.
The project now goes back to the UG’s administration to see if something else can be worked out with other entities for the public safety building, UG officials said.
The proposed project was to build a new South Patrol station for the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department on the site of the former Structural Steel plant. A parole office was to be part of a public safety building there.
The proposed public safety building location is on a remediated brownfield site. A Walmart neighborhood market that is also on the former Structural Steel site will be ready to open next month.
The state backed out because of funding issues, according to the UG.
UG Commissioner Mike Kane said it was not known where the state now will plan to put the parole office. Earlier the state had tried to put a parole office next to a daycare building in downtown Kansas City, Kan., which was met with heavy community and legislative opposition.