Grand opening of Berkeley County Sheriff's Office celebrated

MARTINSBURG - Residents of the greater Martinsburg area were invited to a grand opening celebration at the new Berkeley County Sheriff's Office on Saturday afternoon to learn more about the building and tour the facility.

The 36,000 square-foot building, located at 510 S. Raleigh St., was formerly a Martin's grocery store. According to Doug Copenhaver, president of the Berkeley County Council, remodeling the entire building cost less than $90 per square foot.

The new sheriff's office houses a locker room with showers, holding cells, training classrooms and an evidence processing lab.

Journal photo by Mary Stortstrom

Berkeley County Council president Doug Copenhaver passes the ceremonial scissors to Berkeley County Sheriff Kenny Lemaster at the ribbon cutting marking the grand opening of the new Berkeley County Sheriffs Office at 510 S. Raleigh St.

Approximately 79,000 feet of data cable run through the building, which is electronically connected to the judicial center and the Dunn Building across the street.

According to Copenhaver, the project went over its $3 million budget, but, he said, the result was better quality work.

"We actually went over budget, probably about $60,000, because our budget was $3 million," he said. "I asked the council for a $60,000 buffer, but we ended up doing about 20 percent more work. Our original plan was just to have the front facade redone, but we did all four sides and we added a courtyard on the south side. It was about 20 percent more work, better quality stuff and only three percent extra that we asked for, and I don't think we're going to use it all."

"The outfitting budget was $250,000, and I believe that's going to come under. We were under the $3 million price tag and we were under the $250,000 last time we looked at the numbers, which was two weeks ago. We've been working so hard to get the building done that we're going to look at it again and catch up with it in a few weeks," he said.

The project was partially funded through Community Participation Grants, and according to Copenhaver, the grants accounted for less than $100,000 of the total budget. The rest, he said, was financed through a local bank.

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Grand opening of Berkeley County Sheriff's Office celebrated