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City looks at police facilities
Originally published 12:00 p.m., May 21, 2008
Updated 03:14 p.m., May 21, 2008
Russell Anderson
Opening the Otter Tail County Operations Center next month will not alleviate overcrowding in the county-owned joint law enforcement center adjacent to the court house in Fergus Falls. With that in mind, the City of Fergus Falls will likely move forward with a study to address the needs of the police department which also is housed at the center south of downtown Fergus falls.
This topic was addressed during a joint meeting of the Otter Tail County Board of Commissioners and Fergus Falls City Council Tuesday noon at the county Government Services Center.
County commissioners reiterated — and city officials agreed — that the Otter Tail County Sheriff’s Department needs to remain in close proximity to the detention center and to the court house. The Fergus Falls Police Department, which doesn’t have the need to remain in close proximity, has other options.
“Space needs are the driving factor in a study with the help of consultants,” Fergus Falls Mayor Russ Anderson said.
City Administrator Mark Sievert, city council members and county commissioners agreed.
“We’re in a situation where we’re really cramped, with no opportunity for additional space at the joint law enforcement center,” Sievert said. “Through our consultant (Shultz & Associates, Fargo) we can look at several options. We could remain where we are, rent or purchase another building or build new.”
City council members agreed that having Shultz & Associates provide a detailed study from June trough August, at a cost of $15,400, will be well worth the expense.
County Physical Plant Manager Rick Sytsma, who has done a preliminary space needs assessment of the joint law enforcement center, said an additional 30,000 square feet of space is needed for the Sheriff’s Department and Fergus Falls Police Department to adequately function in the joint law enforcement center.
“You’d have to shoehorn at the current location, which wouldn’t be good,” Sytsma said. “I don’t see how current and future needs can be met by both entities working at the existing (joint law enforcement center) campus.”
City council member Merlyn Shelstad said his tour of the law enforcement center a short time ago was “a real eye opener.” He saw firsthand how cramped the quarters really are for both the sheriff’s department and police department.
“Despite the cramped quarters, the sheriff’s department and police department have enjoyed a great working relationship,” Commission Chairperson Sydney Nelson said. “There’s no doubt that we need to address a long-term solution.”
The police department, if it did leave the current joint law enforcement center, would not be able to move until at least two years from now. A more realistic scenario, according to many at the joint meeting Tuesday, would be five years into the future.
“Even if we don’t know how many years out, the sooner we get going with this study the better,” Sievert said.
City Council member Ron Burt discussed the benefits of the sheriff’s department and police department housed in another building — either an existing structure that could be remodeled on in a new building. If that option were deemed the best choice, the existing law enforcement center in Fergus Falls could be used by other county departments, Sytsma said.
Everyone at the meeting, however, said the prudent course of action is to allow the consultants to do the detailed study this summer and interview employees from both the city and county. The city council will address the topic of the study at its next regular meeting.
Comments
The Daily Journal is happy to host community conversations about news and life in Fergus Falls and the surrounding area. As hosts, we expect guests will show respect for each other. That means we don't threaten or defame each other, and we keep conversations free of personal attacks. Witty is great. Abusive is not. If you think a post violates these standards, don't escalate the situation. Instead, flag the comment to alert us. We'll take action if necessary. It's not hard. This should be a place where people want to read and contribute -- a place for spirited exchanges of opinion. So those who persist with racist, defamatory or abusive postings risk losing the privilege to post at all.Posted by prowler (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 2:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why have existing facilities become so cramped? Have the Sheriff's Office and Police Department increased staff/officers to cause the cramped conditions? If so, why? The size/population of the county/city hasn't increased significantly in the last 40 years. Maybe one, or both, department(s) could downsize to free up some space? Downsizing would also relieve the problem of more police officers than police cars in Fergus, then they wouldn't have to "double up" anymore. In this economy I can't see spending more tax money to acquire another government building.
Posted by goingfishing (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
This is another typical example of the county government. And, they are dragging Fergus Falls into it. A shortage of space? Now just how can that be when so much of the court house is not being used? How can there be a shortage of space to make an addition if it's needed? Just take a look at all the grass only area by the court house. Is it a crime to kill grass by improving buildings? I don't buy the "historical" value of that building story if it's offered. There are thousands of buildings which are quite similar to this court house so the uniqueness just does not exist.
Prowler is so correct when he makes the statement of why is there a shortage of space when the population, which if increased could increase demand, has not changed.
But, the county has the citizens open checkbook (opened by the commissioners) so we can fully expect Otter Tail County to do another fine job of wasting money.
Posted by workingmom (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Prowler, I do not agree that the county or city should downsize and cut officers' positions in an effort to free up space in the L.E.C. This is not the solution. I believe that having the presence and availability of police officers in town and throughout the county is more valuable than saving money by not expanding or building new. Other communities similar in size to Fergus Falls have more officers. Cutting our law enforcement professionals will cause more harm than good. Your remark would make most assume that you have something against our policemen/women and deputies.
I do agree with looking at using the vacant parts of the courthouse as a solution. Since the new GSC opened on the north side of town, many county offices have been relocated. One would assume that there is plenty of office space as a result which could be used for a new LEC facility. This would meet the goal of keeping the office near the detention center.
Posted by Lala (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well I can see this as being a problem. The # of DWI's have went up since they lowered the BAC limit to .08, and also the # of people getting arrested for drugs (the meth epidemic) is outrageous!
It's getting more and more crowded with people committing more and more crimes. I do disagree with them wanting to build new when they have all that extra unused space they could take advantage of.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 3:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The problem is is that the COUNTY owns all of the space in the law enforcement center and that the CITY pays rent there. It would be far more cost effective in the long run to move into a pre-existing building in town or even build a new one than to keep paying the county outrageous rent costs for using more of the space that they own.
Posted by drknow (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Reducing law enforcement is not an answer. And sumwun is correct that the Court House is owned by the county (of which the city is a part of). However, the city does own several vacant buildings which many people in Fergus want to save. So why don't they use one of the buildings at the state hosptial? Wouldn't cost much and they could have all the space they want. It was built (at least parts of it) as a secure building so that shouldn't be an issue. They would still still be close to the county. Sounds like a win-win.....
Posted by Brandon (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
drknow: i like your idea
Posted by MyFurryFriend56537 (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 8:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like Prowler's logic: so if our schools' classrooms start getting overcrowded, should we let go of teachers? Better yet, should we kick kids out of school?
Posted by rodentboy (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
downsizing is definitly not the answer. the RTC was made to be a crazy house and that is the only thing it is good for. this is one of the few things i personally think they should spend the bucks and increase the patrol officer staff. look at all the break ins, destuction of property, and there are alot of houses in town selling drugs. the residents of fergus needs to make the call to the cops when they see something not right.
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on May 21, 2008 at 11:33 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Some of those RTC buildings are spacious, but many of them are falling apart, infested with rats, mice, and other rodents. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe there's still a lot of asbestos in some of them too. It may not be worth trying to move into one of those buildings since the cost to gut one of them out and do a frame up restoration may be less than just putting up a new facility.
Posted by davieboy (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 8:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
We need to make it a illegal to commit a crime. Then we wouldn't have to worry about overcrowding. If people new they weren't supposed to break the law, I'm sure they wouldn't. Then we could downsize the police and sherrif's departments. However, until the people know they can't break the law, we should keep the officers we have. Someone should put it on the November ballot: "If you agree that breaking the law should be illegal.....vote yes." That would probably put an end to crime. Seems like a pretty simple solution to the problem. Then take the $15,400 the city would save and give it a charitable organization........like the Golf Course.
Posted by prowler (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
workingmom: What facts will you be using to support your statement "Your remark would make most assume that you have something against our policemen/women and deputies." Who are the "most" that you are speaking of? The majority , or is this just some uninformed rhetoric you are spewing forth? Forty years ago, when Fergus Falls had a population of roughly what it has now space for the Police Department was not an issue. Then there was one police officer for every so many citizens. My question was, and still is, what has changed to make things so crowded now? Obviously something has. If it is the addition of members to the police force that is causing crowded conditions, I ask why are there more officers now than when crowding was not an issue? Have the powers to be decided that we are not safe enough with the former officer/citizen ratio and needed to revise it? If this is true, how long will it take to decide that the optimum ratio will be 1:1 to make us all safe in our homes. Just how far are you blindly willing to go before you say enough is enough and I would like to keep at least part of my families income for food and shelter? Also, remember what people say about the word "ASS U ME"
Posted by Sumwun (anonymous) on May 22, 2008 at 8:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Would it be fair to say that anyone that has an opinion on this maybe tour the law enforcement center and see how cramped it may or may not be before making up your mind whether or not they need a new facility?
Posted by bohica15 (anonymous) on May 23, 2008 at 7:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Certainly if we can build a second liqour store we can build a 'first' Police Department.
Why was the Sheriff's Operation center built in Ottertail... to provide them much needed space. Have you seen it?
A tour of that building could be a real Taxpayer eye opener!
Posted by truthsayer (anonymous) on May 23, 2008 at 9:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
boHica - if you care to deal with facts........
http://www.co.otter-tail.mn.us/sheriff/O....
Posted by bohica15 (anonymous) on June 18, 2008 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Truthsayer....you're kidding right?
If someone wants something bad enough they will stretch the truth to make it sound good.
Judge for yourself, go look at that building!
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