Trenton chiefs unveil police and fire station designs; council approves site and demolition contracts

Fire Chief Anderson and Police Chief Hawkins presented detailed designs for new Trenton fire and police stations and council approved related site, demolition and abatement contracts to begin construction.

The presentations reviewed building layouts, operational features and schedule drivers for projects funded in part by a voter-approved bond. Council then authorized site-work and utilities contracts for both stations and separate contracts to clear existing buildings on the police station site.

The presentations showed design elements aimed at operational needs and staff safety. Fire Chief Anderson said, "good evening, mayor and council," as he opened a walkthrough of the fire station concept, which includes five apparatus bays, separated contaminated and clean zones with airlocks, individualized dormitory bathrooms and showers for firefighters and a three-story training tower intended for year-round evolutions. Anderson said the design intends to address current deficiencies in apparatus space, decontamination, equipment storage and training capacity.

Police Chief Hawkins reviewed the police design and said the new station is part of a municipal complex kept downtown. Hawkins noted the bond voters approved Aug. 6, 2024 supports the project and said the city has approximately $13,000,000 allocated for the police station. "So first off, obviously, the history of our building," Hawkins said, summarizing shortcomings in the current 1927 municipal building and outlining features of the new single-story station: a 40-seat community training room, secure interview rooms, a wellness room, modern locker rooms with power and drying racks, a dedicated report-writing room and a short-term holding area with a capacity to house up to seven people for pre-arraignment processing.

After the presentations the council approved the larger site and preconstruction contracts that will allow work to start. The council voted to award site-work and utilities contracts for the fire station to Campo Brothers in the amount of $989,437 and for the police station to Campo Brothers in the amount of $1,178,807. Council also approved an $87,800 contract to Blue Star for demolition of the Trenton Motor Inn and a $31,700 contract for asbestos abatement at the same property; staff said the abatement requires a 10-day state notice before work begins and that demolition work is planned to start as soon as abatement is complete.

Council members praised the designs and thanked staff and consultants. Several members noted the projects’ potential to improve downtown appearance and emergency response operations. City administrators and consultants told council they will continue to report back as demolition, abatement and earthwork proceed.

The meeting record shows the contracts and abatement approvals were motioned, seconded and recorded by roll call as unanimously approved where noted in the transcript.