Will a $1 million plan reduction be enough to give the Hyde Park Police Department new headquarters? That’s the question town leaders will be asking themselves as they prepare to offer another referendum on a new police/court facility.
The Hyde Park Town Board agreed this week to move forward with a pared-down police/court facility, proposed to be built on Cardinal and Crum Elbow roads in the town of Hyde Park. The town will present a resolution soon to set a date for a public vote, which would approve spending up to $4.5 million for the new building. Last July, voters defeated a $5.5 million project, indicating the cost was more than they could bear.
Last month, Hyde Park’s town leaders received recommendations for a scaled-down project with reduced price tag of $4.8 million; Supervisor Pompey Delafield (D) asked the police/court advisory committee to reduce costs even further. This week’s $4.5 project reflects more cuts in aesthetics, removal of a community room and special features and reduction in justice space. The town discovered that they can hook up to the county water system, and have eliminated a buried water tank and diesel fire pump from the previous budget.
Furniture has also been removed from the revised budget, which was an issue of concern for the town supervisor. “The lack of furnishings is a big deal,” said Delafield on March 10, noting that furnishings at the current police facility on Route 9G are sparse. Board members suggested that a grant could be pursued to cover furniture costs, and furniture donations could be solicited as well. “There are a number of things we just plain do not have,” said Delafield of the new plan.
Councilman Richard Perkins (I-4th Ward) commended the volunteer police/court advisory committee, headed by Bob Kampf, for its efforts in reducing the project’s price tag. “I think I’m glad they got it down to $4.5 million,” said Perkins. “They did a good job.”
Perkins also noted that costs savings were made without sacrificing crucial elements of the facility. “They really did some work pulling stuff out,” he said. “I don’t think we’re doing any damage to the visual environment.”
Town attorney George Rodenhausen discussed a timeline for the project, explaining that the board will need to put together a resolution and run actual costs through estimators. “Assuming we can have that done, we can write up the bond fairly quickly,” said Rodenhausen.
Board members agreed that keeping the public informed during this round of voting is crucial, as is the timing of the referendum. The longer the project is delayed, the more costly it becomes; ideally, the town would like to break ground before cold weather hits in winter. After much discussion, Delafield suggested that a vote take place somewhere within the first two weeks of June. Once the architect, David Souers, draws new plans to reflect recent cost reductions, the committee and Town Board will begin making information available to voters through written materials and public meetings.
“There was a lot of misinformation last time,” said Delafield, who noted that he is already receiving calls from residents concerned that the building will be constructed on a swampy parcel on Cardinal Road. “It’s not the swampy land,” said Delafield, noting that the construction site donated by John Golden is on the other side of Cardinal Road between the firehouse and the Montessori School.
Delafield stressed that the decision to move forward is a board decision based on recommendations by the police/advisory committee. “A committee of 11 people makes the recommendation to the board,” said Delafield. “Ultimate responsibility belongs to us, nobody’s shirking that.”