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RFH 2010, Cover Stories, News

Estimates for New Cop Shop Skyrocket

Sun, Oct 17, 2010

The price for building a new police facility at the municipal airport could increase markedly if the bids the village recently received are any indication. It was revealed at the village board meeting Tuesday that bids for the new building came in at some $837,000 even with village employees doing some of the work.

That is about $250,000 more than the village expected it would cost to build the 3,500-square-foot building. It would be paid for by a grant from the state.

New Police Chief Rick Gifford was at the meeting and said the current space the police occupy at village hall is unsafe. He said there is no way to secure a prisoner in the offices and that there are numerous items that could be used as a weapon against an officer or anyone else in the building.

Officials from the Madison County Sheriff's Department have expressed interest in having access to space in the new building. Gifford also said the State Police are seeking an alternative to the substation in Morrisville.

Also at the village board meeting last week:

+ The prospect of installing sidewalks on Lebanon Street was discussed. The village received a Safe Routes to School grant but found that the state wants to oversee construction. The cost for surveying three driveways on Lebanon Street would be about $1,500.

+ The board voted to supply snowplowing at the SOMAC building on Lebanon Street.

+ Trustees discussed the problem of access to dumpsters behind some Lebanon Street buildings. The village garbage collection crew cannot reach some dumpsters because cars are parked in the way. No action was taken.

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