Chagrin ponders new police station

CHAGRIN FALLSIt was standing room only during Monday's town hall meeting at a public hearing to discuss the proposed police station.

Architect Dave King presented two revised designs for the station on Solon Road.

To get the issue on the Nov. 3 ballot, council must pass a resolution of necessity and decide the bond issue's amount at its Monday meeting. It may choose between the two designs, or opt not to put it to a vote this fall.

On May 5 residents defeated a $5.4 million bond issue and a .70-mill operating levy that would have paid to build and maintain the 16,400-square-foot station.

Council is now considering two smaller and cheaper alternatives.

The first design is a two-story structure with a half basement and unfinished space that could eventually be used as a community room.

This 15,900-square-foot design would cost about $4,514,000, or $886,000 (16.4 percent) less than the station on the May ballot.

The other design is a one-story structure with a full basement that eliminates the community room. This design is 13,600 square feet and would cost $3,995,000, which is $1,405,000 (26 percent) less than the original proposal.

The main difference between the two new designs, King said, is the space for the community room. Residents speak

Residents offered comments on many aspects of the proposals, from whether Solon Road was the right location to whether the village should seek both the bond issue and operating levy on the same ballot.

Peter Balunek, who worked on the Friends of Chagrin Falls Police Station campaign, said the village should consider the future of the community when deciding whether to include multi-purpose room and public restrooms.

"This village does not have any place to bring people together," he said.

He said spending the extra money on these things now, during construction, would be cheaper than adding on later....