Burnsville will host a groundbreaking ceremony Thursday evening as it embarks on a three-year, multi-million dollar renovation project to address its police and city hall needs for the next 30 years.
The Police City Hall renovation project, which will cost an estimated $98.5 million, will modernize the existing facility at 100 Civic Center Parkway and more than double its square footage to allow for more efficient operations, training and enhanced security, said Burnsville Parks, Recreation and Facilities Director Garrett Beck.
The roadmap for the renovation stems from an 18-month space study that was conducted in September 2022. The study identified deficiencies with police and city hall operations that could be alleviated with an additional 110,000 square feet of space to carry out services.
A growing police force, the hiring of a training sergeant, establishing a behavior health unit, hiring social workers and more collaboration with the fire department to address mental health calls have all added to the need for additional space, Beck said.
“Space has been repurposed beyond its intended use, like using our only training room and closets to house the behavioral health unit,” according to the city’s project page. “This longstanding practice has resulted in current space and operational deficiencies.”
By renovating the current 95,500-square-foot facility, which was built in 1988, Beck said the city will “avoid millions of dollars in repair and updates.”
Funding for the project will come from franchise fees on gas and electric utilities, Beck said, which the utility providers can pass on to customers.
For residential properties, the project will see a fee increase of $4 per month, while commercial properties will vary, Beck said.
Franchise fees were first implemented on gas and electric utilities by the Burnsville City Council in 2016 to avoid raising property taxes for capital improvements, according to city documents.
Related Articles
Rosemount: $3 million roundabout project coming to Minnesota 3, public meeting Wednesday
West St. Paul pastor recalls spending the summer of 1980 in Minnesota with a friend — Pope Leo XIV
Emergency alert for Lakeville sets off phone alarms in wider area than intended
MN memorial for fallen officers includes 2 killed nearly 100 years ago
What the EPA’s partial rollback of the ‘forever chemical’ drinking water rule means
The city is working with CNH Architects and Kraus Anderson on the project, which will be completed in three phases so the city can continue its services in their existing locations.
Phase one is expected to last 14 months and will see the build out and construction of the new spaces, Beck said. Phase two is expected to start next summer and will see the renovation of the current police facilities. The final phase will renovate the spaces that city staff are currently working out of, Beck said, to allow for a smoother transition.
The tentative completion date for the project is March 2028.
Burnsville Police City Hall groundbreaking
What: Groundbreaking ceremony with music, Fully Loaded BBQ food truck, bounce houses and more
When: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, May 22
Where: Burnsville City Hall at 100 Civic Center Parkway
Watch live: http://pipr.es/vrNqYMo
Leave a Reply