|
Police station takes step forward |
|
|
By Patrick Tepoorten
 The North Branch City Council gave Police Chief Steve Forner tentative approval to pursue a police station referendum in the fall, at a work session held Feb. 21.
Not able to be present at the meeting, Mayor Gloria Karsky expressed her concerns about the referendum through City Administrator Bridgitte Konrad. In an interview following the meeting, Karsky noted that she isn’t against building a new station, or pursuing a referendum, but is concerned about the timing.
“We need to look at it in context with the budget process,” she said, adding, “And make sure it is fiscally responsible.”
Karsky would prefer to make a decision whether to move forward after the council receives and reviews the city’s preliminary 2009 budget. Of note in that budget is debt obligation for the residential portion of the ESSBY project. Karsky noted that, without a purchase by a residential developer, debt for the project will fall on taxpayers.
There were questions at the work session regarding the necessity of including a garage with the proposed facility, which Forner believes is absolutely necessary.
Friday morning, he explained the need for a garage not only to keep the extensive electronics packages inside squads warm and functioning, but to provide a secure place for seized vehicles and squads, and privacy for subjects brought in during investigations.
“The garage is not a luxury,” Forner stated.
The proposed police station, called “bare bones” by Forner, is to be located to the east of the fire hall, which is on County Road 30 south of downtown. The cost of the fully furnished station is estimated at $2.26 million.
Konrad expects the subject of the referendum to come up again in April, when she expects to apprise the council of the specific process steps.
 |
