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The Osseo City Council is considering a potential remodel or rebuild of the city’s government campus along Central Avenue.
Osseo’s government campus houses city hall, along with a community center, the library and the city’s public safety departments.
According to city officials, the main building is too small to house the city’s growing police department.
“The current building was originally constructed in the 1960s, and is outdated with aging utilities, inadequate ADA entrances and usable spaces, no windows in the staff office area, a host of water drainage issues and not enough space to house the increased police department,” wrote Riley Grams, city administrator in a memo the city council. “Additionally, the fire department space does not fit the current industry standards, and the entire facility does not currently meet the service needs or the community, nor will it meet the future service needs of the community.”
The council discussed the possibility of a remodel or rebuild during a work session on Monday, Jan. 29.
It’s an expensive and complicated prospect.
FUNDING
The project would likely cost between $16 million and $24 million.
But the city only has the borrowing and tax capacity to bring in about $13 million for the project.
“We can’t steal the money so we’re going to have to beg or borrow for it somehow, you know, to figure out how we’re going to be able to do this, or we acknowledge the fact that nobody is saying, that this project just can’t get done,” said Osseo City Council Member Mark Schulz.
The city could look to grant funding or state bonding to help finance the project, but neither is guaranteed.
Likewise, the city could ask voters for a sales tax increase for the project.
TEMPORARY HOME
If the project moves ahead, it’s likely that police, firefighters and other city staff members would need a temporary place to work during construction.
Police Chief Shane Mikkelson said that could be more difficult than it sounds.
The police department would need a secure facility for personnel, records and evidence.
Meanwhile, the city would need to find a place to store large machinery like fire engines.
It’s also unclear if the city would rebuild on top of the existing campus or look elsewhere.
SOURCE: CCX MEDIA
