By Allison Peck
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The North Platte City Council has taken the first official step toward replacing the city's aging police station, approving the release of a request for proposals (RFP) for architectural and design services Tuesday night. The vote did not approve construction of a new police station, but instead begins the process of determining what a future facility could cost before the city decides whether to move forward.
For years, city officials have acknowledged the North Platte Police Department has outgrown the former hospital building it currently occupies. Mayor Brandon Kelliher said Tuesday night's action is intended to provide the council with reliable cost estimates before making any long-term decisions involving taxpayer dollars.
"This wasn't approving a new police station," Kelliher said during a Wednesday morning interview on Eagle Radio. "We approved getting plans for a new police station. It's the very beginning steps."
The city is seeking proposals for what are commonly referred to as 50% plans—preliminary architectural drawings detailed enough for contractors to prepare construction estimates within about 10 percent of the final cost. Those estimates will allow the council to compare the cost of constructing a new police station with the possibility of renovating an existing building before deciding which option makes the most financial sense.
During Tuesday night's meeting, council members were told the preliminary design work is expected to cost between $150,000 and $250,000. While that represents a significant upfront investment, officials said it would provide accurate cost estimates for a project that has been preliminarily discussed in the $10 million to $13 million range. Council members emphasized those construction figures remain estimates until the design work is completed.
"You don't want to guess with public money," Kelliher said. "It's a very bad idea."
The discussion marks another step in a conversation that's been ongoing for years.
Kelliher said the city has examined the future of its public safety facilities throughout his nearly six years as mayor. While an earlier study considered relocating both police and fire services, city leaders now believe Fire Station No. 1 should remain at its current central location while efforts focus on finding a long-term solution for the police department. If police relocate, the former hospital portion of the building would likely be removed, creating opportunities for future expansion of the fire station.
According to Kelliher, the current police station has become increasingly difficult to adapt to modern law enforcement needs. The department continues to operate from a former hospital where thick concrete walls make technology upgrades challenging, storage space has been exhausted and evolving state and federal requirements continue to place additional demands on the facility.
"If you walk in there right now, there are parts of it that look exactly like an old hospital," Kelliher said. "There just isn't any more space."
Council members also heard that the aging facility could eventually create compliance issues for evidence storage if additional space cannot be found, something Kelliher said could affect police operations in the future.
Once architectural proposals are received, the council will decide whether to hire a firm to prepare the preliminary plans. Only after those plans and cost estimates are complete would the city determine whether to pursue construction of a new police station or consider another alternative.