North Bay Police Chief Shawn Devine says the best option is a new police headquarters to replace the aging building that opened in the early 1970’s.
The North Bay Police Board received a Facility Report in October and that 200 plus-page document offered up three possible options for the future of the headquarters including two involving renovations and the other to build on a new site.
See related story: Police Board looking at major reno's or a rebuild of Police Headquarters
Devine admitted he has got some push back from some city officials regarding the timing of the rebuild because of other potential projects such as the arena and Casselholme projects. But Devine believes the aging building has had major problems within the past seven years.
“What we said was this was a five-year projection and it is the same decision that you have to make as if you are driving an older car, do you want to continue to put money into something that is really going to cost you more money, or do you want to look at maybe it is time to facilitate a new purchase and the same thing with the building,” said Devine who made the recommendation at the Police Board meeting today.
Devine says they expect to meet with the city with hopes of breaking ground on a new facility within four or five years.
“We had put forward money within our 10-year forecast for a capital budget expecting that we are going to have to have repairs. Or do we look at investing that money into a new facility? So I believe the next step will be some conversations with the CFO as far as putting out an RFP, finding a design consultant, consulting with the community, finding property and what is the best spot for it,” he said.
