Eastpointe council approves final design work for new police and courthouse, delays firing range and animal-control building

The Eastpointe City Council voted May 6 to move forward with the final detailed design for a new police and municipal court building but excluded an on-site firing range and a permanent animal-control facility from the current design package.

City project manager Mister Kern told council that, if the council approved proceeding with final design that night, completing the detailed design and obtaining permits could take up to a year, with bidding likely in summer 2026, construction beginning in about September 2026 and final completion in early to mid‑2028. Kern said water and sanitary sewer permits — reviewed by the agency identified in the packet as Eagle — could take four to six months and might slow the schedule.

Council members and staff discussed cost, parking and the firing range. Staff estimated a parking structure would add about $40,000 per parking space, translating to roughly $4–5 million additional cost for the number of spaces needed. Estimates for a firing range varied in the discussion: staff referenced an equipment…