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Lake Forest police station design advances; bids expected in August, council review in September
Summary
Chief John Burke reported progress on interior layouts, communications upgrades and approvals needed for the planned new police station; bid packages are slated to be released Aug. 14 and the council will consider awarding construction on Sept. 15.
City of Lake Forest officials told the council on July 7 that design work for a new police station is nearing completion and that the project is moving toward the bidding phase.
Chief John Burke, who briefed the council, said interior decisions are nearly complete and the schematic includes an enlarged training room (designed to seat about 120 in lecture-style or more than 80 with tables), dedicated storage for range equipment, weapons and ammunition storage, and a weapons-cleaning area. Burke said staff have identified and approved purchase of a used generator at the last council meeting and are planning to extend natural gas service to the building to reduce electrical loads and allow for future gas-powered equipment.
Communications and safety systems: Burke said the project team is seeking to bring a fiber-optic line to the building and has obtained quotes for bidirectional amplifiers (BDAs) to ensure radio connectivity throughout the building; he noted that officers currently lose digital radio coverage near elevators. The team has reviewed access control, interior interview/interrogation systems and security camera placement and is finalizing furniture and interior finishes.
Agency review and schedule: Burke reported the Illinois Department of Corrections reviewed and provided a letter approving lockup design materials required before bidding. The project design firm (identified in the meeting as Kortig and Clark/Quartergan Clark) was expected to release bid packages Aug. 14, and staff planned to return to council Sept. 15 to request construction authorization. Burke said the project budget was currently on target.
What to watch: Council members had no substantive objections at the update; pending items include the building review board hearing and the formal bid-release and award process over the coming months.
