Owen Sound council wants to see what it would take to get an OPP costing.
They directed staff this week to look into what that costing process would involve, as part of a greater discussion on the cost of policing and future police station repairs or even a new build one day in the city.
They haven’t asked for the costing itself to be done, just a report on what it would include if it was undertaken.
Mayor Ian Boddy says, “If we are going to re-do a building, look at a new building, it made sense to look at everything which would include an OPP costing and it’s just an opportunity to look at alternatives and look at the cost of everything.”
The conversation began with a request from staff and the police services board for a $100,000 study to determine what kind of physical work the Owen Sound police station needs.
That study would have been paid for through development charges, the police station facility reserve and a one-third contribution from the Owen Sound Police Service Board revenue reserve.
Council voted the request for a $100,000 building needs assessment down, and instead will consider a cost comparison first.
The City has allocated $1.6 million in 2027 to a major air handling unit replacement at the police station on 2nd Avenue West. A staff report says a total of $2.7 million has been earmarked across the five-year multi-year capital plan for ongoing facility improvements.
In 2017, an OPP costing was done that showed initially higher startup costs, but projected savings after the fourth year. The city decided to stay with its own police service.