New Hanover Park police station comes with steep price tag

For Hanover Park's finest to have the finest, residents better prepare to pay.

Preliminary plans for a new police station were revealed to the village board on Thursday, along with a $27 million price tag.

The village currently owes about $900,000 in outstanding bonds, which last year translated into an estimated $70.21 in annual property taxes for a home valued at $175,000.

Village Manager Marc Hummel discussed the financial impact should Hanover Park go ahead with three separate $10 million bond issues. In 2009, the same property owners would pay $105.31 annually for those bonds. In 2010, the amount jumps to $140.89. Then for the next two decades, property taxes would climb to about $221.

It's math not everyone can get behind.

Trustee Toni Carter suggested moving forward with the police station alone, citing its more reasonable $12 million to $15 million cost.

"Village hall is certainly antiquated and needs modification," Carter said. "but we know the number can't be that high."

The municipal building housing the police station and village hall was built in 1976 when Hanover Park's population hovered around 18,000 people.

Police operations currently take up about 18,000 square feet including storage; the new plan would provide nearly 50,000 square feet.

Under the proposal crafted by Chicago-based architectural firm PSA-Dewberry, the existing Mid-America Water buildings just east of the municipal complex would be demolished, clearing a 3-acre site for the police station. Construction calls for additional holding facilities, a shooting range and possibly a patrol vehicle garage.

Larry Hlavacek, project manager at PSA-Dewberry, urged the board to take advantage of current market conditions. He said an advantageous bidding climate exists with building costs predicted to drop in the short-term. There's also a risk of future inflation on materials.

Mayor Rod Craig didn't rule out getting on the stimulus package bandwagon, but admitted Hanover Park's project may not be far enough along to benefit.

Hanover Park has about $1 million in building fund reserves, insufficient to cover the entire $1.9 million architectural services contract. Hummel recommended the board allocate the reserve fund for the project and continued evaluation. The plan will be discussed at a future budget workshop.