The Village is finally getting serious about providing the Shorewood Police Department with some decent facilities. The present building they work out of is totally obsolescent for a police force their size in this day and age.
I had previously suggested that the Village talk to the School Board about the SIS building, as the school system has too much space for too few students. The main drawback to that idea would be getting the School Board and the Village Board to come to a consensus within a reasonable amount of time.
As the Village Board has been so delinquent in addressing this problem, and with all the different considerations that have to be taken into account by the School Board, it is probably not a solution that can happen in a timely manner. Which is unfortuanate, as more than likely we will have the problem of what to do with the SIS building in the next few years.
A viable site for the new police station that is going to be looked at is the AB Building at 4057 N Wilson Drive. At first blush, it appears this is a site that can meet the physical requirements of the SPD.
The downside is that it will mean a loss of $63,000 in property tax revenues. Considering all that the Village is doing in trying to increase tax revenues, this would be a step backwards.
I don't think though, that the site should be dismissed out of hand because of the tax consequences, if the Village can get innovative and perhaps make up the difference in other ways.
For instance, it has been mentioned in the past that perhaps the Whitefish Bay PD would be interested in sharing space with the SPD. If the 4057 building has enough room, the combination of savings by both departments through shared resources, and the rental income from the Bay PD could offset the tax loses.
Other possibilities that could be explored would be rental of space to the Sheriff's Dept for a substation --- or possibly other law enforcement organizations.
If there is a decent gun range in the new facility, NRA hunter training programs and possibly range rental time for pistol leagueS could generate some additional revenue.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ? PLEASE COMMENT BELOW !
