A majority of the Lock Haven City Council voted to authorize staff to solicit bids for a new police station, contingent on federal (USDA) approval of final bidding documents.

City planning staff told council the project, started in 2023, has secured $500,000 from a local share account and $1,000,000 from a senator's appropriation funneled through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Staff said bidding documents were completed Nov. 20 and are under USDA review and that construction is expected to begin in spring 2026 if federal approvals and weather permit. The planner asked council for permission to advertise for bids now so the city could meet grant timelines.

Council members questioned project scope and cost. One member noted that initial feasibility recommendations had higher square footage and that the design had already been reduced about 20% to be more economical. Staff said grant deadlines (the transcript cites mid-2027 for grant expiration) and prior borrowing leftover (identified as $374,016.25 in Fund 16) are factors driving the schedule and funding plan; staff described a current estimate that city-hall rehab funds and other sources would bring the project closer to the expected outlay estimated in the packet.

An unidentified council member moved to authorize solicitation of bids, and another council member seconded the motion. Council later recorded the vote: Councilor Alexander (Yes), Councilor Brandon (Yes), Councilor Brinker (No), Councilor Conrad (Yes), Councilor Ramirez (Yes), Councilor Stevenson (Yes), and Mary Wong (No). The motion carried.

Staff and the architect said the two-story design includes a sally port on the first floor and office space above; the plan was raised as improving evidence storage, officer safety and operational efficiency. Council members asked whether officers had reviewed the layout; staff said officers had seen plans and that minor adjustments could be made but that engineers had finalized the documents for USDA review.

The council approved the authorization to bid but staff emphasized that actual bidding and award will not occur until USDA grants final clearance and that the city will only proceed to advertising once that clearance is received.

The council will return to the project timeline when USDA provides formal authorization; no construction contract was awarded at this meeting.