Ordinance earmarks $6 million for project
Lea Kahn
With the introduction of an $8.5 million bond ordinance last week, Township Council has taken the next step toward constructing the Police Department and Municipal Court building.
The bond ordinance, introduced March 21, earmarks $6 million for the design and construction of the new building. A public hearing and final action on the bond ordinance is set for the council’s April 4 meeting.
Township Council awarded a $532,000 contract to design the building to the Trenton architectural firm of Clarke Caton Hintz late last year.
The contract calls for Clarke Caton Hintz to develop the building program and then to design the building. Although it has not yet been determined whether the building will contain one story or two stories, it is expected to contain about 32,000 square feet.
The building program determines how much space will be allotted to each of the functions in the Police Department and Municipal Court offices, Municipal Manager William Guhl said. It will determine how much space is needed for the Detective Bureau, the conference room and the courtroom, and the number of jail cells that are needed, for example.
It will take about nine months to develop the building program and design the building itself, Mr. Guhl said. Specifications are expected to be ready by October, and the project can be put out for bid. It will take about a year to construct the building.
The new facility will be located on township-owned land on the north side of the municipal campus. The Police Department and Municipal Court offices are located on the first floor of the municipal building.
In addition to money for the new facility, the bond ordinance includes $1.4 million for the purchase of three fire engines — one each for the Lawrenceville, Lawrence Road and Slackwood volunteer fire companies.
The township replaces the fire engines on a rotating basis. One fire company was slated to have its fire engine replaced in 1999, and another one was scheduled to have a new fire engine this year. The third company would have received its new fire engine in 2001.
This time, the three fire companies joined together and drew up common specifications in a cost-saving move, Mr. Guhl said. The township can seek bids for three engines simultaneously. Fire engines are replaced on a 15-year schedule.
The bond ordinance also includes money for the purchase of various Public Works Department equipment, such as a street sweeper, storm drain grates, a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a tailgate sander.
There is money for the purchase of various computer and office equipment, plus Police Department communications equipment and park maintenance equipment.