The City of DeKalb purchased a plot of almost three acres adjacent to Yen Ching Restaurant on West Lincoln Highway to be the site of the future DeKalb Police Station.

DeKalb commissioned Wold Architects to do a long-range space-needs analysis for the police and other city departments. The results of the study found DeKalb police would need a new building and that a larger municipal building also would be needed. A progress report from this analysis was presented at the city council workshop Monday. The cost of land and a new facility was estimated to be in the range of $12 to $15 million.

DeKalb’s solution for its space issues involves short and long-term plans because the city needs time to raise the required capital for a new building.

The Short-Term Solution

A new city hall design was unveiled with an addition to the south side of the Municipal Building at 200 S. Fourth St. Upon completion, city officials currently occupying the second floor will move into the addition, while the police station will expand to the second floor.

The cost for the larger, renovated municipal building will be about $5 to $6 million, said DeKalb City Manager Mark Biernacki.

“This is a stop-gap measure until we can afford a larger police facility,” Police Chief Bill Feithen said.

The 11-month construction period will begin with a November ground-breaking later this year. The police will then use the entire current municipal building beginning tentatively late in 2007.

The Long-Term Solution

The city council also declared its intention to purchase land for the permanent home of the DeKalb police. The price tag is $1.57 million for 2.99 acres of land, with a reimbursement of $35,000 going to the previous owners for demolition of the site’s crippled structures.

“The council felt it was necessary to take the first step toward a long-term solution,” Biernacki said.

That said, construction on the site will not commence for several years.

“As it stands, we see a seven to 10 year time frame during which the city would like to set the money,” Biernacki said.

DeKalb will enter into a bond for $7 to $8 million to pay for the renovation and addition to the municipal building and also for the cost of the land on West Lincoln Highway. There is no definite word yet on where the funds for the actual construction of the station will come from.