Now that the new home for Marietta Municipal Court will be ready soon, it's time for city officials to decide how to re-arrange existing offices.
New space for the Marietta Police Department seems like a no-brainer. Much of the current department is in the basement of the city building at 301 Putnam St. Flooding and cramped quarters are common, according to police officials. Mold is a recurring issue in areas that flood, hardly a workplace condition anyone would like to deal with.
And it's not like flooding and lack of space are new conditions. There's been talk for years about trying to carve out new space for the police department.
Roughly 90 percent of the department's operations are in the basement. But it appears changes are long overdue. Witnesses and suspects have to follow a meandering path between the basement and interrogation rooms upstairs.
As with most issues in city government, it boils down to money. Moving the entire department - including space used on the first and second floors of City Hall -across the street into another city-owned building has been deemed too costly. Moving vital communications gear would be expensive for taxpayers. We appreciate city officials' care with tax dollars.
But, clearly, the department is outgrowing its quarters. For example, a cage meant for keeping lost or stolen bicycles is bursting with evidence because there is no place else to keep it.
Something has to be done to help the police department, whether it's a move, or somehow adding space at City Hall.
