Westfield officials report rising emergency calls, police HQ progress and construction season updates
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Summary
Fire and police chiefs reported increased runs and calls for service in February and construction milestones: the fire department described plans for temporary Station 82 and turnout performance, while the police chief described progress at the new police headquarters and upcoming trail patrol expansions; public works outlined pothole and major roadwork schedules.
During department reports, city public-safety and public-works leaders updated the board on operations and capital work.
Deputy Chief Jim Roberts said the fire department recorded 466 total runs in February (about 16.6 per day), up from roughly 13.5 per day the prior year. Roberts highlighted turnout-time goals (under 80 seconds) and said Medic 82 is meeting that target with about 60-second turnout times. He described plans for a temporary Station 82 in Cool Creek Park — modular housing near the county maintenance barn — with an engine and an ALS-paramedic-staffed truck; staff expect to begin moving crews in around May to prepare the site for contractor work.
Police Chief Sean King reported 3,511 total events for February, including 1,633 calls for service (46.5% of activity), representing an 11% increase in calls year-over-year consistent with population growth. King said the department is increasing proactive walk patrols (438 in January) and will provide more granular reports in May showing where patrols are occurring (trails versus neighborhoods). He also gave a construction update for the police headquarters: foundations, structural steel and masonry are in progress with expected visible structure in May–June and a target move-in in September–October of next year.
Michael Pierce, director of engineering, described public-works priorities for construction season: dedicated pothole crews and permanent patching equipment, tunnel project clearing and underground work, the second phase of Old 146 beginning next week (45-day window), an 81st/Grama Park roundabout with a 60-day closure and anticipated resurfacing and State Road 32 work to resume soon.