Waukee plans new home for growing fire, police departments

Waukee is planning a new home for the city's growing fire and police departments.

The City Council on Aug. 7 approved site plans for an almost 86,000-square-foot building to be located southeast of the intersection of 280th Street and T Avenue.

Space has long been an issue for Waukee's first responders with the current public safety building, 1300 S.E. L.A. Grant Parkway, built more than 20 years ago. Emergency workers were serving a city of nearly 5,600 people in 2000, but the population has quintupled to more than 29,000 residents last year.

"We don't have adequate space, we don't have adequate meetings rooms, we don't have adequate office space for command staff, the officers and even for visitors too," former police Chief John Quinn told the Des Moines Register five years ago.

At the time, a closet in an office for six sergeants was being converted into a dressing room, and the locker room had one shower for 22 officers. Firefighters also were out of space for administration and their training room didn't have enough lockers or showers.

Assistant City Administrator Nick Osborne said the new public safety center would serve as a second fire station for the city in addition to being a new home for the police and fire departments. About 10,000 square feet will be available for future police use as the city continues to grow.

Osborne said the project's $53 million construction budget already has been adjusted to account for cost increases, which meant they had to cut a planned shooting range and a fire training tower.

He expected the building would be ready for use in 2025.

Plans for the almost 30-acre property also include a large pond north of the building and public parking for the pond off Northwest Douglas Parkway. A trail would circle the pond and connect to other trails in the area, according to city documents.

There is room for a future water tower on the east side of the property. The public will mainly access the new public safety center from the south and park on the west side of the building.

Phillip Sitter covers suburban growth and development for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at psitter@gannett.com. He is on Twitter @pslifeisabeauty.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Waukee plans new home for growing fire, police departments