Sidney police consider need for new headquarters building

A new building or a remodel of the old headquarters might be in the Sidney Police Department’s future.

The largest project currently in the works at the department, outside of their day to day efforts, is a feasibility study to discover the most viable options for an updated police department building. The current building on Illinois St. is past its life expectancy. To allow for future growth as well as continued use, the current building would require a potentially pricey remodel and expansion. This work would include structural rehabilitation that could run up the costs.

The study examines three options for the future of Sidney police. One option would be to rehabilitate the police department’s current building. The second option is selection of existing structures in Sidney both vacant and soon-to-be vacant to be re-purposed by the city. The third option would be new construction on a yet to be determined site, preferably on land already owned by the city.

Sidney police worked on the study with Voorhis Associates and Carlson West Povondra Architects, as well as Jack Baker of Baker and Associates. Those involved worked to determine the future and current demands of the department and how those demands might changes as the city grows. A portion of the study is an effort to create hypothetical floor plans.

At the end of the study, police will recommend one of the three options to the city council. So far, police have used around $17,000 of the $20,000 allocated for the research project. The department hopes to formulate a concise recommendation in the next two months and to make an initial presentation of its findings in March or April.