Lots of options, but no action on Sugar Grove station

The Sugar Grove village board spent much of Tuesday's meeting discussing options to improve the crowded police facility, but once again took no action.

On Sept. 2, the board tabled discussion on a $500,000, 1,600-square-foot addition and renovation to the existing police station, with several trustees expressing concerns that the plans did not address staff needs and would soon be outdated.

At Tuesday's meeting, representatives of Williams Architects and Cordogan, Clark and Associates Architects presented a second plan for expansion. This one would cost the village $700,000 and add 2,220 square feet, creating a police station with a total of 4,648 square feet.

The $700,000 expansion allows for a secure reception area, 32 lockers rather than 20 under the $500,000 plan (there are presently no lockers), more office space for report writing and investigative work, and a sally port to more safely transport prisoners.

Trustee Thomas Renk questioned the expansion and suggested considering building a new police station, or having the police use the entire building that is now shared with village staff. (The police station and the village hall are in the same building.) Village staff would move out and lease office space.

The village had considered building a new municipal center, but those plans were shelved late last year.

Village Finance Director Justin VanVooren told the board that the $8.5 million the village issued to begin building the new municipal center has been spent, or set aside for other uses.

"We would have to issue more bonds and we're not bringing in any permit fees," VanVooren said.

"Leasing would cost $200,000 a year," said Trustee Mary Heineman. "We're not collecting impact fees because we're not building. This (expansion and renovation) is by far our most cost-effective option. We were talking about a $20 million building that cost $600,000 just to put the plans together. This way we're getting something for our money."

Village President Sean Michels said he favored the $700,000 expansion option with a goal of it serving the police department for another 15 years.

"A new facility isn't in the cards right now, we don't have the funds to pay it back," he said.

Michels and several trustees favored tabling the resolution to approve the contract to have more time to make a decision.

Also, Heineman and Trustee Melisa Taylor requested a breakout of cost per square foot.

Approval of the construction contract will be on the agenda at the Oct. 7 board meeting.