New DPS building is source of pride

History will be made - in a sense - on Monday morning when construction begins on a new Public Safety building for the city of Sikeston. And because of the importance of this undertaking, all of Sikeston should be proud.

When the Public Safety officers vacate the aging current facility, it will mark a giant step for the efficiency and organization of this critical city agency. It is hard to explain just how cumbersome and costly the current facility has become.

There remain detractors for the construction of a new Public Safety building. They continue to question why we need this facility and why incur the expense.

But if those cynics - and I don't fault them - would simply take a quick tour of the current building, I honestly believe they would understand.

Community pride takes many forms. A winning football team or basketball team is a source of community pride. Blake Dewitt is a source of community pride. An award for a local civic club is a source of community pride. Expansion of our hospital is a source of community pride.

And I would argue that a new, shining, modern Public Safety building too will be a source of community pride.

The city and the Board of Municipal Utilities have combined to work toward this project. The new facility has been in the planning stages literally for years. And because of the countless hours devoted by countless local citizens, we will soon be able to watch this new landmark take shape.

There's ample talk about the positive impact this new facility will have on visitors and newcomers to our community. And I fully agree.

But I am more interested on the positive impact this facility will have on the citizens of Sikeston who can point with pride to a true improvement.