LAKEPORT >> Already in escrow, the old social security building is likely to become the city of Lakeport’s new police station with the help from some Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
Since July of 1999, Lakeport’s police have inhabited the strange layout of two buildings on 916 N. Forbes St. Oriented in an ‘L’ shape, officers and staff have been required to exit their building to access another’s office.
That causes kinks in the smooth operation of the department, Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen says, and the current station’s lack of some safety features adds to the list of reasons for a new locale.
Over the past few years, the city has discussed, planned and implemented some capitol and security improvements for the Forbes Street building, Rasmussen said. It wasn’t until about six months ago LPD began talking with the city about finding a new building, though.
Conveniently, the facility situated at 2520 S. Main St., just in front of Lakeport’s Kmart, was abandoned by social security services a few years ago, leaving a prime government building already outfitted in security features on the market.
“I don’t believe the building will need any significant improvements, if any at all. It appears to be set up very well,” Lakeport Finance Director Daniel Buffalo said.
City Manager Margaret Silveira added the cost of upgrading the current police station would outweigh its worth.
Assuming escrow closes without hitches, the building would be purchased for $825,000 from owner Jean Howe.
The buy is also dependent, however, on state approval, as the city will be utilizing CDBG Program Income (PI) funds to supplement about $300,000 of the bill.
When business and housing loans are made using CDBG funds, the money from the repayment of those loans is then considered under PI. Rather than returning the money to the state, the jurisdiction can utilize those funds for supplemental activity.
In this case, purchasing a new police station is considered a community facility acquisition by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Buffalo stated. Asked if there were any other projects or departments with a higher priority of need for those funds, Silveira said the city’s Public Works Department needed more space, but it’s the police department that is most in need of an updated facility.
The latest city council meeting, which approved the use of the funds for the purchase, did not hear any public comment.
The rest of the money would come from a long-term, low-interest loan through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development program, Buffalo said.
Other perks of the new building, according to Rasmussen, include its prominent location on a main arterial street; an accommodating lobby for the public; dedicated public parking out front and the ability to place security fencing in back for police vehicles; and, compared to the department’s current building, an extra 1,600 square feet of room to boot.
“We’re very excited about the potential purchase,” Rasmussen said. “It will have a big impact on moral at our department.”
Response times are not likely to be affected, he said.
Although Rasmussen and Silveira didn’t want to discuss the weaker aspects of the current station’s security features, Rasmussen explained his officers and staff’s safety have been put in jeopardy because of the building’s shortcomings in the past.
If the purchase of the old social security building falls through, Rasmussen said the department will go back to the drawing board and continue to seek alternative options to their current situation.
On the other hand, a final handshake on the purchase would allow the city to lease out the old station as office space, Silveira said.
An estimate for a move-in date couldn’t be provided, but Rasmussen said a lot of planning would go into the transition. The department’s computer network, records and evidence would have to be moved and the public would need to be made aware well in advance of the relocation.
With a successful purchase, the new station would add to a long list of capitol improvement projects (CIP) undertaken by the city this fiscal year, including the procurement of new docks at Library Park, upgrades to the city’s financial software, equipment purchases for road work and a big chunk going toward various road work projects.
According to the city’s budget, projected CIP costs doubled from last fiscal year’s, as did the city projected total expenditures. The city has been able to undertake the “big push” for CIPs with reserves from last year’s budget and other one-time monies, Buffalo said.
