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Wyoming City Council is keeping the design phase for a new fire and law enforcement facility right-on-track.
The plan reviewed by council late last year, spelled out by consultants, was to get a bid package out for soliciting bids around spring 2022— and council approved a contract with Wold to do just that. (The entire November facility presentation is on-line on the city website.)
This part of the city facilities package is $171,000 and will come out of the capital revolving fund.  The council was advised the funds can be “backfilled” when financing or borrowing for the whole project, is finalized
Council member Linda Nanko Yeager voted no.
Although council was advised that the project can be halted anytime officials feel discomfort with the costs, etcetera, she said it is not realistic to think the city would “walk away” this late in the game.  Wyoming leaders have been considerng new municipal facilities for years and usually end up with small improvements, re-arrangement of sites, and temporary fixes.
There are 19,000 sqaure feet now being used by public safety in total and Wold has identified 27,000 square feet as the imminent need for both fire and law enforcement functions.
Council approved the future site for a new public safety facility, to be built at the intersection of 273rd and CSAH 30, north of the area where Regal Machine and Split Rocks Entertainment Center are situated.  The City Hall is getting a new look as well.  If fire moves out there will be space vacated for re-aligning offices for growth in municipal staff and services, and for storage and making city hall handicap accessible and more user friendly. Wyoming Public Works is also in need of an upgrade to its headquarters on Wyoming Trail (old township facility)  and this would be next in line as a priority.
Council member Nanko Yeager said she would prefer a more modest project but shared no specifics. She worried about the financial impact on fixed income and retired citizens in particular.  
Council member Brett Ohnstad commented that construction doesn’t become less expensive when delayed.  The mayor added public safety needs are an important local government service and there are fire and law enforcement needs now.
In other council action: The police department has three hybrid squad cars on its acquisition plan (one to replace a squad in a crash last December) and council approved the purchase unanimmously (Council member Schilling was absent) at $142,735.


WITH GRAPHIC OF FACILITY

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