Ponoka’s RCMP building is outdated and too small to accommodate officers who cover three different areas.
Those areas are municipal police, highway patrol and the Ponoka Integrated Traffic Unit but paying for a new police building is estimated to cost taxpayers $5.3 million. The cost does not include landscaping, parking lot development and services.
However a portion of that cost will go to the RCMP over a period of 20 years, explained CAO Brad Watson.
Because the integrated traffic unit uses the existing building, the province pays a portion of costs for the space as well. This arrangement would continue if a new building were constructed.
K-Division Northwest Region Project Management uses a formula to determine the needs and costs of the building. The RCMP will contribute toward a building of 1,336 square metres or 14,381 square feet with a certain portion being paid by the RCMP and highway patrol.
Based on the previous agreement with the town, RCMP highway patrol paid for approximately 55 per cent of the building while Ponoka paid for 45 per cent. The provincial sheriffs paid the town a portion of the latter to rent space for their staff.
The construction cost per square metre is estimated at $4,000; if town councillors decide to build a bigger building Ponoka would not receive extra funds, Watson added.
The town is also considering upgrading the existing building rather than building a new one.
“That’s one of the alternatives being looked at because we anticipate it coming in at half the cost of the new one,” explained Watson.
A consultant is looking into the feasibility of updating the current detachment as the building requires complete upgrading to serve the community for the next 20 years. The town is also considering where to place officers should refurbishing be approved.
Watson believes prisoners would still be placed in cells at the current detachment if council decided to upgrade the building.
Once the results of the studies come back, councillors will be able to make a decision.
A location for a new RCMP building has been chosen at 6711 Highway 53. Approximately 20 sites were considered before making a decision and it gives police quick access to the highway as well as be out of downtown and school zones.
Occupancy forecast for a new building is for August, 2015, if approval and construction started right away.