The historic Colusa Carnegie Library has served the Colusa Police Department for decades but modern times call for modern facilities.
The City Council next week will consider a $250,000 CDBG planning grant application that would help the city finally take the first step toward building a modern police department that meets the needs and requirements of a 21st century law enforcement agency.
“The longer we wait, the less attainable it will become,” said Police Chief Josh Fitch, concerned over rising construction costs.
Colusa Grant Writer Fernanda Vanetta, at a community meeting at City Hall on Monday, said the city has applied for about $30 million in financial assistance since she was hired in April, including grants for water, sewer, and street projects.
She said Colusa is eligible for both a community development grant and an economic development grant – and the city plans to apply for both this summer.
“The police station falls under the needs of community development,” Vanetta said.
The $250,000 grant would pay for planning and architectural designs that would get the project “shovel ready” in order for Colusa to then apply for the funding for facility construction.
Few in Colusa have ever disputed a need for a new police department, including those who attended Monday’s meeting.
The Carnegie Library was built in 1906 and its designation as a Colusa Historical Landmark (1981) and a nationally registered historic place (1990) prevents the city from making any major alterations to the structure.
The library was built with money donated by businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who funded the construction of 2,509 Carnegie libraries between 1883 and 1929 in the U.S. and elsewhere.
However, the historic library, which is used as a police station, is not ADA accessible; the restrooms are inadequate; there is no hot water or kitchen; no male/female officer locker rooms; no conference room; no private interview room; no off-street parking; no evidence vehicle storage area; and the building has electrical and mechanical systems that have long failed to meet the advanced demands of a modern police force, among other deficiencies.
Because the Colusa Police Department, which turns 100 this year, has never been housed in an actual police station, Fitch said it is finally time to make a move to a custom built (or rehabilitated) facility that would allow the police to function properly, help recruit and retain officers who want to work in a modern police station, and allow the department to comply with modern policing and evidence retention standards.
“It’s time to do it or quit talking about it,” Fitch said.
Fitch said he has saved much of the city’s development impact revenue over the years to show that the city has “skin in the game” for matching grants that would fund the construction of a new police station.
Fitch also believes that a new station could be built on land donated to the city for that purpose. Officials estimate that two acres (one city block) would be needed to build a facility that would meet the needs of the department.
“At this point, I don’t know that I will see it in my career, but if I leave here knowing that it is impending, then I don’t have to work a day in it,” Fitch said. “I just want to know that it is going to happen. That has been my goal.”
The Colusa City Council will conduct a public hearing regarding the grant application at 6 PM on June 21.
The public is encouraged to attend. ■