The Law and Justice Center is expanding to increase support for people with mental health issues. The Bloomington City Council approved an agreement allowing city property to be used for the expansion.
The project aims to house inmates with mental health issues in a separate building. City Manager David Hales said this is the result of a process that began when a study showed the center lacked good mental health facilities.
"That put in motion studies, discussions, and now, eventually, this expansion so that we could have up-to-date, modern, medically-advanced areas to treat the mental health inmates."
Hales said the project is partially funded by the one percent sales tax increase that began in January, a quarter of which was earmarked for mental health initiatives in McLean County.
"That, between Normal and Bloomington, is our contribution towards these facilities."
A new building is planned east of the current Law and Justice Center. The project is slated to begin next spring and could be completed by Spring 2019.
The council also held a public hearing for a possible TIF district in downtown Bloomington and approved paying for a plan to upgrade the training center used by the city's police department. They also approved a liquor license for 8 Bit Beercade, which is planning on opening in mid-November.