By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
Back in 2016, then Great Bend Police Chief Cliff Couch noted the police station on Williams Street could use improvements, expansion or a new building altogether. Couch noted the Police Department has spent a good amount of money maintaining a building that was built in 1928.
Along with structural problems, inefficient space, there is an ‘unsolvable’ sewer smell that lingers throughout the station.
Fast forward to 2020, and Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis felt it is time to form a committee to look at improvements or relocation of the Police Department.
"A committee could include a combination of staff and citizens with building trade knowledge to help us get this process started," said Francis.
Francis says all options are on the table right now including building new, finding an existing building to move to and even constructing a new facility that combines the Police Department with a new City Hall.
Great Bend currently has approximately $1.4 million saved for Police Department building improvements. Francis estimated it would cost twice as much to construct an adequate facility, depending on whether or not City Hall would be included.
"I think it is time to get this project on the forefront," said Francis. "I think it will be beneficial to our officers to provide them a modern facility to assist them to do their job."
Francis imagined the city is still a year or two away from possible construction on a new Police Department building.