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Marshfield council approves planning for larger police garage after debate over costs and timing
Summary
After a lengthy presentation on operations and procurement urgency, the council voted to pursue the larger 27-stall garage add-alternate for the Wildwood Plaza police relocation, and directed staff to return with financing options; members expressed both support for long-term value and frustration at late scope changes.
The Marshfield common council voted on June 23 to pursue the larger, 27-stall garage option for the police department relocation project and directed staff to proceed with planning, design and financing planning necessary to order prefabricated precast walls by the August procurement deadline.
Police Chief Jody Goring told the council that a smaller in-budget garage (about 5,662 square feet) would create operational and safety shortcomings compared with the add-alternate full-size garage (approximately 11,324 square feet). Chief Goring said the reduced garage raises concerns about an exposed courtyard that could be a breach point, limits on secure indoor storage for large diesel SRT and canine vehicles, and reduced ability to respond in inclement weather if vehicles are parked outside.
Construction manager representatives (Kramer Brothers) told the council the guaranteed maximum price for the in-budget design was being held at about $9.99 million and that the larger garage add-alternate adds roughly $1.3 million. The contractor emphasized a time-sensitive production slot for precast concrete and urged a decision by early August to avoid losing a production slot and incurring higher future costs.
Finance Director Jennifer Solinski presented options to fill an approximately $500,000 gap if the council opts for the larger garage: delay purchase of one vehicle in the next year's vehicle replacement plan (approximately $75,000), apply roughly $60,000 in unallocated proceeds from past vehicle sales, use a portion of an expected general fund surplus, identify project savings, or use short-term borrowing through the State Trust Fund Loan program. Staff said the project currently carries a healthy construction contingency (about $550,000) and that some sale proceeds from the existing police station could also be applied when realized.
Council debate included a mix of support for making the long-term investment now to avoid higher later costs and concerns about 'surprises' and last-minute scope increases to projects. Council Member Spiroz said she was disappointed and described the request as feeling like a "switch and bait," while other council members argued that the incremental cost (a few percentage points of the total project) was prudent to deliver a building designed to last decades. The council motion to incorporate the 27-stall option, proceed with planning and return any required budget/financing amendments to the council passed on a voice vote.
Next steps: Staff will return with a financing plan and any required budget amendments at the next feasible meeting (staff indicated early July or the second July meeting), and will attempt to lock precast production if directed to proceed with the add-alternate.
