LAKE STEVENS – Police Chief Randy Celori is looking forward to February. That’s when he expects to move out of the attic.
Celori and his staff of 15 are crowded into a small, remodeled house on the lakeshore that has about 1,600 square feet of space. Only about 700 square feet is usable as work space.
The new police building, on 21/2 acres north of the fire station on Grade Road, will have about 4,900 square feet of space in six modular sections that were delivered Monday. The sections were built in Arlington, Celori said. The station’s foundation also has been poured.
“I was very happy with the quality of the construction,” Celori said after visiting the Arlington construction site.
The modular sections are being installed, and then the roof will be added, Celori said. The department hopes to move in the second week of February.
Cost estimates for the building and street enhancements range from $970,000 to $1.2 million. The city paid $225,000 for the land.
Most of the furnishings are in storage awaiting completion of the building, Celori said.
He sent out requests for proposals to furnish the new station, but didn’t want to pay up the $60,000 estimated. Instead, he went to an auction in June and bought most of the furniture for less than $1,000. Even with storage costs, the furniture has saved the city money, he said.
The new building will provide more room not only for officers and administrative staff, but also a training room, a kitchen and a larger area for evidence storage.
“We’ll be operating out of the current police department until everything is up and running at the new office,” Celori said. “The public shouldn’t see any lapse or degradation of services.”
Residents may experience about an hour of lag time when the phones are switched over to the new office, but 911 service will not be interrupted.
Reporter Cathy Logg: 425-339-3437 or logg@heraldnet.com.
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