What’s being built next to the old radio station?

There’s new construction taking place next to the old radio station on Mullican Street. And any time I hear hammering, it gets the Business Pulse juices flowing. But before you get too excited, let me tell you this is an office you never, ever want to visit. I can say that without fear of a lawsuit because the building will be the new home of the Tennessee Probation and Parole Board.

In case you’re wondering (and I just know you are) there’s already a Tennessee Probation and Parole Board office in McMinnville. It’s located in the shopping center called The Gallery on New Smithville Highway, which is the same shopping center that’s home to Horner Rausch.

This office deals with serious criminal offenders who have been released from either prison or jail and are on probation or parole. The local office supervises criminals from Warren, DeKalb, Van Buren and Grundy counties and currently has seven cases workers who monitor 651 people.

Depending on their crime, these people can be required to report once a month or much more frequently. Case workers administer drug tests, make home visits, and perform a variety of duties in an attempt to keep the criminals from becoming repeat offenders.

Local supervisor Sammy Howard told me Friday the plans are to move into the Mullican Street building in January. He said the high case load necessitates the move to a bigger facility.

“This is too small for us so we got a lease through the state for a new place,” said Sammy, who indicated he wasn’t surprised by my call. “I figured you would be getting some questions about it.”

Since I doubt anyone is interested in being monitored by the Probation and Parole Board, I won’t include the business phone number.