Snippets from the front page article-
Lancaster a step closer to renovating Walden Avenue police building
by Lee Chowaniec
This is priceless-
Totally AGREE.Resident Lee Chowaniec: “I have always favored getting a new police facility from the time the Town and Village police forces merged. For me, it was the process manner and the place that was chosen. So in closing I would like to make the following statement.”
“We could have had a new 33,000 square-foot police facility built on Pavement Road years ago for $7 million. The Town spent 1.9 million for the 3949 Walden Avenue Colecraft Building and some furniture. The Town has paid over $300,000 in debt interest over time since the $1.9 million bonding took place. The Town has spent a few hundred thousand dollars in building repairs, maintenance and energy costs. It took a commercial building off the tax rolls at a cost of $51,000 in property taxes per year, another $350,000. A grand total of over $11 million will be invested into this project and the building will not be fully refurbished. And, we will still have an old building, 50+ years in age.”
“Please tell me why taxpayers should not feel that this Town has acted irresponsibly in spending the money at 3949 Walden Avenue to renovate this facility; that this investment was in the best interest of the community? Since we have been bandying this project along for near seven years, it seems we are still at square one, where we could have spent less money years ago and got this done. And, this is happening two months after election time, when residents have been asking about this police station for a very long time and we are still unable to get any numbers on what this police facility will cost. I am disappointed, to say the least.”
If Ruffino's prediction of the Depew police force being dissolved becomes true, the LPD vehicles may not spend as much time in officer's driveways with the added work load as mentioned in this post.Resident Mike Fronczak: “There were multiple studies done on both projects (Walden Avenue building and a new facility), right?”
Ruffino: “Sure, from building new, renovating Lancaster Village Hall and renovating the Walden Avenue building. It came down to renovating the Walden Avenue building. What you have to realize is that the Walden Avenue building presents is the expansion of the building down the road. You build a new building and what happens if you merge, if Depew shuts down. Now you take on all those police officers. So that’s the real concept that could be out there, some day, some time; ten years down the road, whenever. The facility on Walden Avenue will be able to accommodate all the officers. You build new and you are back at square one. The Walden Avenue building is also centrally located. That facility is smack-dab in the center of the town, and it is in a better location if we take up the Depew police force. This thing was put on hold because of the advice of our former Town Attorney. We are getting back into it, we are moving ahead.”
http://www.speakupwny.com/forums/sho...8&postcount=22
Georgia L Schlager
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