New municipal building represents milestone for tiny Lakemoor
A yearslong push to change the image of Lakemoor from a distant backwater to a desirable place to live and do business is taking a big step forward Tuesday with the opening of a new municipal center.
Prominently situated on busy Route 120 east of Darrell Road, village offices and police department operations have been combined in a $6.5 million building intended as much to make a statement as to provide more space.
"It definitely brings the village to a higher level of professionalism," said Matt Dabrowski, community development director. "It continues to reinforce our efforts to rebrand the community and enhance our image."
Designed by FGM Architects Inc., the single-story, 13,900-square-foot building has been under construction for about a year. It replaces 2,000 square feet of rented office space the village has occupied for several years and a former industrial building a few miles away that housed the police department.
When Village Administrator David Alarcon started in late 2009, the village hall was in an old fire house not far west on Route 120. That building has since been since demolished because of its poor condition. Police worked out of a double-wide trailer across the street along the shore of Lily Lake.
Upgrading and making facilities more functional have been priorities for village leaders.
Alarcon, village employees and elected officials spent the weekend moving boxes, checking servers and networks and working through myriad details to prepare for opening day.
"We didn't hire a moving crew - saving a little money," Alarcon said.
The village borrowed $4 million to help pay for construction of the new building, using reserves to fund the remaining $2.5 million.
Alarcon said the sparkling terrazzo tile floor in the sleek entry is the exception to what otherwise is a plain building.
"When people come in, they get the 'Wow,'" he said.
The village wants to embrace its history and plans to display a number of historical photographs in the new building, he added.
For police, the transition will be more pronounced not only because of the amount of dedicated space for interviews, evidence storage and detention, but also due to advanced video monitoring and security features.
That is in addition to body cameras for officers, which are being ordered this week and expected to be in use in four to six weeks.
"These guys came from nothing," Police Chief David Godlewski said of the force's 12 full-time and five part-time officers.
"This advances them to the same level as larger police departments. The learning curve for them is going to be huge," he added.
In a message to residents, village officials described the opening as an important milestone in the community's history, one that will provide better services and symbolize the vibrancy in town.
An open house will be scheduled soon.