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The Lakes Area Police Commission handled just the business that was time sensitive last week, with Police Chief Schlumbohm otherwise occupied at the 9-11 commemoration event, being held in Moberg Park, a hundred feet away from the commission meeting room.

The commission heard from Lindstrom City Administrator Dan Undem that the study on re-use of Lindstrom City Hall for a public safety facility has not started yet.  Undem said by the next police commission regular meeting, in November, there should be some numbers and analysis available on what the commission is looking at to retrofit Lindstrom City Hall.

Lindstrom Council approved hiring a firm to look at what city hall reuse would entail.  Leo A. Daly architects are contracted by Lindstrom to provide a study of what it would take to turn the Lindstrom City Hall into a full blown public safety headquarters for Lakes Area Police.  Undem said the firm provided consultant Cindy McCleary, who was scheduled to tour the city hall this week.

This new twist in the pursuit of a Lakes Area Police headquarters came out of debate among police commission members on taking another look at the $8 million new facility chosen as the preferred project.  The police leaders from the two cities have been studying and designing a project for years to address shortcomings in existing law enforcement space.  

The four member commission (now with three different members) had previously decided to construct a new building next to Chisago City fire hall, where the LAPD impound lot currently is.  The commission had then sought state legislative aid over three sessions but no funds were appropriated.  

Police commissioner Chisago City Mayor Bob Gustafson has passed away, and Lindstrom got a new mayor and a new council representative serving on the police commission. The two cities budget for law enforcement 50-50.  

Now;  faced with a pending seriously downsized project, Lindstrom Council, with member David Waldoch opposed, suggested to re-use city hall.  

The police commission directed Lindstrom to proceed on estimating the feasibility presented for re-use of city hall; as this would be part of a big picture plan to also relocate administrative and other city hall functions if the building is retrofitted.

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