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Troy staff present $1M starter plan for police‑station windows amid wider $2.5M–$5M renovation debate
Summary
City staff told the finance committee the downtown police building needs extensive repairs; staff proposed a $1 million initial investment to replace first‑floor windows (some to be bullet‑resistant) and phase remaining renovations over multiple years, prompting a debate about safety, cost and alternatives such as partial bricking of windows.
Speaker 1 (Unidentified Presenter) laid out a facilities assessment of the downtown police station, describing 51 total windows, many of which are 30 years old and some that do not close; he said the building has “glorified storage” in the former holding-cell space and needs improvements to locker-room, basement and first‑floor windows.
Cost estimates discussed varied: a full renovation was presented at roughly $5 million; staff suggested splitting the work over multiple years and starting with $1 million devoted to replacing windows — with first‑floor windows upgraded to bullet‑resistant glazing where appropriate — and pacing additional interior work over two to three years. Speaker 1 said spreading the work reduces short‑term pressure on the capital plan but increases remobilization costs.
Council members pressed alternatives. Speaker 4 and others described prior incidents (rocks thrown through plate glass) and urged stronger glazing; Speaker 3 suggested partial bricking of a small number of windows (4–6) to reduce exposures and cost. Participants cited rough price ranges: about $390,000–$400,000 was noted historically for whole‑building window work, while the presenter said $1 million would cover first‑floor replacement with bullet‑resistant lower panes and upgraded upper panes.
Why it matters: the police station sits in the downtown pedestrian path; staff argued that first‑floor perimeter exposure creates a security risk and occupational-safety concern for officers. At the same time council members weighed fiscal tradeoffs, debating whether to prioritize windows now or bundle windows with other exterior/interior work to save mobilization costs.
Next steps: staff will provide a detailed project breakdown and bids before council authorization thresholds (projects >$70,000 require authorization to advertise). Staff offered to host building tours for council members to view deferred‑maintenance issues; no formal decision was made at the workshop.
