The Pembroke City Council held a workshop Monday night to discuss plans for moving ahead with the former Bryan County Elementary School and playground.

The Pembroke DDA and city purchased the combined 6.59 acres for about $1 million. The DDA is currently considering an offer for the school from a company that would convert into senior housing. The city expects to have architectural plans and a cost estimate for building a public safety complex on the playground land later this month. Construction could begin in early 2017.

Plans call for the addition of a new road connecting the playground area to Ash Branch Road to provide faster emergency response time to those locations on the back side of the property.

Playground equipment still at the location will be moved to Harn Community Center to make it more accessible to children and to help round out the age-appropriate equipment available for kids there.

Council also discussed membership in the Georgia Cemetery Association and the need to update the city’s personnel policy regarding smoking areas. The policy prohibits smoking in city-owned buildings or vehicles and restricts smoking to designated areas only.