ELM CREEK, Neb. - Buffalo County residents gathered Tuesday evening in Elm Creek for a town hall meeting focused on the proposed $72 million law enforcement center.

County officials outlined plans for a new shared facility that would house both city and county law enforcement under one roof.

The proposal aims to address space limitations and aging infrastructure in current facilities.

Community members had questions about the project’s overall cost and the timing of the proposal.

In response, law enforcement and planning officials pointed to rising construction costs and long-standing space constraints, noting that further delays could lead to even higher expenses.

The Elm Creek meeting is part of a series of public forums ahead of a special election later this year, where voters will decide whether to approve bond funding for the project.