Pembroke City Council has authorized a design assessment for a Fire Department/Public Safety building that would be shared with the police department.

The unanimous vote came near the end of Monday night’s regular council meeting, when City Administrator Frank Etheridge reported results of meetings of the Fire Committee and Police Committee held since January’s council session.

“What I propose to you after meeting with both committees is that we look at a joint-use building to meet the needs of both departments, and to go ahead with a design assessment to look at what our needs are,” Etheridge said.

Originally, only a new fire station was proposed, and an earlier, free consultation with architects suggested a 10,500-square-foot building.

For more, pick up a copy of the Feb. 16 edition of the News.