Kaysville will ask voters to approve bonding for new police station

KAYSVILLE — About a quarter-century ago, this city's 12,000 residents were protected by nine full-time police officers working from a 6,000-square-foot station.

Now, the city's population is 26,000, and 20 officers are packed in that same building.

The Kaysville City Council wants to change that.

On Tuesday night, the panel adopted a resolution to let voters decide Nov. 2 whether to issue up to $4.5 million in 20-year, general obligation bonds to pay for the construction of a new 20,000-square-foot station.

Councilman Mark Johnson said the station is needed and the time to act is now. Borrowing rates and construction costs are very low, plus the city can take advantage of a $300,000 technology grant if the station is built by January 2012, he said.

"Our police station is very, very small, and frankly we need to be updated on some of our technologies there and equipment needs," Johnson said. "So we really do have a need, and we have a great opportunity. There are many advantages to doing it right now."

The new station would be on city-owned property north of the municipal building and library, across a parking lot from the current station. Information presented to the council Tuesday night indicated the new facility would serve the city for more than 40 years and through the city's build-out to an estimated 41,000 residents.

For the average homeowner with a home valued at $258,000, taxes would increase an estimated $2.75 monthly to pay for the bond. For a business valued at the same amount, the increase would be $5 monthly.

Councilwoman Ally Isom said a new police station is "definitely a significant need for our community," adding that the city needs state-of-the-art facilities and sufficient resources to protect its residents.

Information about the station proposal will be posted on the city's website, www.kaysvillecity.com. A public hearing is set for Sept. 21, and open houses have been tentatively scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 12 and Oct. 26 at the current police station.

e-mail: bwallace@desnews.com