Government
Seabrook police pitch new $15M station new facility roughly 22,000 square feet in size on city-owned property west of Hwy. 146, which could cost up to $15 million , documents show. Sorting out the details
74% increase in employees in last 30 years 28 years at current station 22,200+ square feet $15M potential total cost of station Pitching a new facility
At Seabrook City Council’s Nov. 19 meeting, the city’s police department made the case for why it needs a new building. What happened Seabrook City Manager Gayle Cook stressed the importance of relocating the current station, which was built in 1996, due to the flood risk at the station’s current location. The police department, for example, lost vehicles and equipment, including computers and a 911 dispatch console, and experienced damage to the offices and jail during Hurricane Ike, according to a city staff presentation. Staff were displaced for over a year in temporary offices. “During Hurricane Ike, this building was signifi- cantly impacted,” Cook said. “At that point, it set the current council on a path of looking at getting critical infrastructure out of harm’s way.” City staff proposed relocating the station from its current location in a flood zone and building a
Chief of Police Rolf Nelson said the current sta- tion, which totals around 10,500 square feet , does not have enough holding space for the continual collection of evidence. A presentation from the department showed there was also limited space for breaks, as well as a shortage of facilities such as showers. “It’s difficult ... getting people to sign up to be cops anymore,” Nelson said. “To work in an area where the facility is very old, very tight, very cramped when they can go down the street, earn the same pay and have a newer facility that’s more conducive to a human working environment.” Looking ahead The project would be funded through a 2025
SOURCE: CITY OF SEABROOK/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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bond program that voters would consider on the May 3 ballot, according to a city staff presentation. Prior to that, City Council will have to call for a bond election by February. If the bond is approved, the project could be completed in 2027, officials said.
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