Police building revamp will take 6-9 months
ECPD, Fire-EMS building will be reroofed simultaneously
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com

BIGGER: Improvements to El Campo's police building include expanding the dispatch area into what is now a parking lot. Contributed Graphic

A police department expansion in the city of El Campo will likely take six to nine months with officers, dispatchers and visiting members of the public simply having to make do as the work progresses.

The almost 8,000 square foot building is scheduled for a complete re-roofing along with a two-prong expansion of the facility. At the same time, the roofing over the fire/EMS station will be redone for a total estimated price of $572,000.

The work is part of a $2.9 million municipal building improvement plan backed with a combination of fund balance dollars and $1.65 million in Certificates of Obligation.

The police department building was constructed in 1974 and has already undergone one renovation.

This project will expand the jail and dispatch areas in addition to providing a new sally port (covered and secure drive) which will block the current drive between the police station and City Hall.

"The dispatch office will be extended south approximately 10 feet," Police Chief Jim Elliott said. "Our number one priority was a bathroom in dispatch. When working alone (it is) very difficult to take a break due to the distance from the communication equipment."

The old sally port area will then be converted into offices and record storage areas.

"The area will be a records storage room (as well as) offices for Cindy Howell and Wayne Denson," Elliott said.

Howell works with evidence as well as serving as the Crime Stoppers liaison.

Denson is the department's narcotic's officer.

"We anticipate that in one month we will be ready to release to general contractors," said Malcolm Gaus of RWS Architects, the firm engaged by the city for the design work, during a city meeting Oct. 16.

True costs won't be known until the project goes out for bid. Councilman Robert Boone expressed concern over possible construction disruptions and the effect on the department.

"It has to be done," the police chief told Council.

The construction work will be done in stages, Gaus said, with the new sally port being built, then offices at the old site.

"There will be some disruption yes, but we try to minimize it," he said.

Overall the project will take six to nine months to complete.

Other projects

• Designs for a new, estimated $300,000 animal control building are ready.

"The basic plan needs to be approved and then we blow and go," Gaus said.

Work could begin shortly after the new year.

The animal control building will require approval from the Texas Department of Health Services before it can proceed.

• An estimated $30,000 in renovation at the Aquatic Center is still being studied in an effort to determine the best was to allow for windows at the top of the building to be made operable.

The city is trying to determine the best and most cost effective ways to heat the facility.

• A new $590,000 fire pumper truck is under construction and is scheduled for delivery in January.

• The full scope of an estimated $1 million floor to roof renovation of the El Campo Civic Center is still being determined.

The implementation

The COs will be made official during the Nov. 13 City Council meeting.

El Campo taxpayers will see the effect of the COs on their bills starting in the fiscal year 2008-2009.