Farmington voters to weigh in on proposed police station

FARMINGTON — Voters will decide on the proposed construction of a new police station by secret ballot at the polls Tuesday.

The ballot asks residents if they are favor of a capital improvement project for construction, engineering and design costs by appropriating $2.75 million. The question includes authorizing the town treasurer and chairman of the Board of Selectmen to secure the bonds needed on behalf of the town.

With an estimated interest rate of 4.5 percent for 30 years, the estimated costs for the project would be $2.75 million in principal and $1.92 million in interest, for a total of $4,669,918. The project would raise the town's debt to $6,285,391.

Based on the town's valuation, it would add about $50 on a tax bill for a $100,000 property, if things remain the same, Town Manager Richard Davis said at a recent public hearing.

The 14-member staff of the Farmington Police Department has worked for years in a cramped four-room office in the present Municipal Building, police Chief Richard Caton said previously.

A space-needs committee was formed last year to study the situation and developed a proposal to build a 9,000-square-foot, one-story office on land already owned by the town at High Street and Route 2.

Besides several offices planned within the proposed building, there would also be a conference room with seating for 64, exercise room, equipment storage lockers, evidence processing and storage, interview rooms, file storage room and a two-bay garage to house vehicles. There would also be an outside, fenced in impound area.

Both the Board of Selectmen and Budget Committee recommend passage of the ballot question.

Some members of the Space Needs Committee had previously asked for more consideration of other spaces around town. Other proposed site recommendations were requested and reviewed but the committee deemed the proposed site at High/Route 2 to best serve the town's needs.

abryant@sunjournal.com