Strongsville Insights continued

In the fall of 2002, instead of passing a bond issue to build a new Police Station, Council and the Administrtion put the issue on the ballot. Again in the spring of 2003 the issue was put on the ballot.

In May 2006 the Administration and Council placed on the ballot a bond issues to raise $25,000,000 for the building of a new Municipal complex to house police, jail and law enforcement facilities and other municipal offices and functions.

At a Council committee meeting, attended by the Mayor, Administration staff and Council members, held on June 15, 2006, the idea of introducing another levy for only the construction of a new police facility was added to the discussion. After further meetings and further discussion the members of Council determined and the Administration agreeded that the issue of a police facility would be put on the ballot. Thus Issue #151 was born and then defeated by the voters by a margin of 500 votes.

COMMENT: 

 Even though the voters continue to return individual members to Council and elected Mr. Perciak to office with a strong majority, the writer believes that the continued negative response, of the majority of voters, reflects a discontent with the management of the city by the Administration and the "Council as a whole".
                 

FURTHER ACTION

Based on discussions at a recent Council Caucus meeting and a January 11, 2007, front page, article in  THE SUN STAR Mayor Perciak indicated that the city would look into a plan to renovate the existing police station and expand it to include the nearby fire station. The estimated cost of the project is about $6.5 million. The plan would join the 9,100 square-foot station on the City Commons to the central fire station, which sits to the immediate east of the police station.
The Mayor indicated  both buildings can be incorporated into a renovated and expanded police facility, a new structure linking them across a city owned parcel now used to park police cars. The plan is to create a facility with 35,000 square feet that would include a 12,000 to 15,000 square foot jail.
Council has approved a request to enter into an agreement with RFC Contracting, at a maximum cost of $24,000, to determine a plan.

Update as of August 9, 2007

Richard Bowen and Assoicates will design a plan that will incorporate the current police station, the parking area and the current fire station, which will move to its new headquarters on Prospect Road in October 2007.

RFC Contracting, Inc. ha been named as the construction manager.

The city hopes to go out to bid for the project by March 2008.

INSIGHT: We knew in 2003 that the structure of both the police facility and the fire station on the Commons were sound. For the sake of "who knows what" the Administration and City Council put the community through the May 2006 and November 2006 elections. Likely before October 2007 Council will approve the sale of bonds to refurbish the police station. With the re-election of Mayor Perciak, all but assured, maybe in the fall of 2009 City Council will approve a bond issue to add a City Hall to the already refurbished Communications Center.

08/29/07

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