Plans for a New Police Station, Service Department Buildings Underway

The Buildings and Grounds committee has a lot of projects planned this year, said chairman Louis N. Carouse Jr. Here’s a quick look at some of those projects that the committee discussed earlier this week during its meeting at :

• New police station: This project is just in the beginning stages, but it’s been a long time coming. Carouse said the need for a new was discussed during his first year on council in 1990. “It’s kind of been waiting its turn,” he said. The city always prioritizes projects by need. The new station will be located across the street from the , which would allow the city to put in a new traffic signal for both departments. The mayor asked the city engineer to do some soil borings before any other plans are made. Then, the city council will discuss an ideal budget and begin looking for an architect. There is a tenant living on the property until the end of 2012. Construction likely won’t begin until 2014 at the earliest.
• New service department building on Blossom Hill: This building would replace three others used by the Service Department. It would serve as a service garage and a storage facility for the city. Mayor Jerry N. Hruby said this building will not affect the .
• Stadium Drive master plan: Council members discussed this project in February, but received an update on Tuesday. The master plan will eventually include a variety of new buildings for the Service Department, as well as a new salt storage facility. The city only plans to build the new salt storage building this year. The city also plans to put a on its Stadium Drive property. Council members received an update on the pond on Tuesday. The city engineer, Gerald Wise, said he had applied for money for the project from the EPA, but it did not qualify. The city still plans to move forward with the project.