Waukon Police Station remodeling project gets underway this past week
To be renovated for evidence storage ... Under the new office layout at the current Waukon Police Station, the southwest corner of the building, currently part of the garage, will become a secure evidence storage area. Condensation and mold growth are visible in the corners of the garage area and will be cleaned, sealed and further insulated as part of the remodeling project. The window in this photo will be removed and replaced with concrete block for improved energy efficiency and security. The squad room, currently in the southeast corner of the structure, will be moved next to the secure evidence storage area under the new layout. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
New conference room planned ... The squad room area, pictured above, in the current Waukon Police Station now under renovation will be the new location of a conference room that will allow teleconferencing and meetings with city officials, community members and other law enforcement agencies. This area will be used for in-house training and planning related to various emergency situations. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
Windows to be removed ... As part of the Waukon Police Station remodeling project, windows on the south side of the building are being removed and replaced with cement block along with added insulation to improve energy efficiency and security. Pictured above is a glass block window on the south side of the building scheduled to be removed with visible damage and foam insulation as a temporary repair. Standard photo by Joe Moses.
by Joe Moses
The Waukon Police Station remodeling project is moving forward with extensive improvements and renovations taking place this fall at its current location in the 100 block of First Street NW, with project completion anticipated for mid-December this year. Initial interior demolition got underway this past week by the project contractor.
Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner said that the first phase of this project essentially began with the replacement of the Waukon Police Station’s concrete driveway earlier this summer, which also improved some storm water drainage issues at the northeast corner of the building. Wagner also said that a pre-construction meeting took place just over a week ago with Dave’s Complete Construction, Inc. of Delhi, one of seven contractors to bid on this project and the contractor with the lowest bid for the project of $372,694.00 and an alternate bid of $14,923.00 for the inclusion of additional options.
In preparation for the remodeling project, the Waukon Police Department office space has been temporarily relocated to its one-time former location in the lower level of Waukon City Hall, accessible to the public through the First Avenue NE entrance on the west end of the building. Wagner said this office space was previously used by the Waukon Police Department prior to the early 1990s purchase of the Police Station structure currently being remodeled on First Street NW.
With the remodeling of the Waukon Police Station, Wagner explained that there will be some changes relating to the office layout among other overall improvements to the structure itself. Wagner said that a greeting area will be added at the police station entrance, immediately inside the front door, with security glass and a metal door restricting the public’s initial access to the reception and office areas.
Wagner further outlined that some concrete demolition and replacement will be required in moving the existing restroom to a location further within the structure and in making changes for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance. Wagner said that a locker room and an additional restroom with a shower and adjacent laundry area have been included in the building layout and will be beneficial following any contact with contaminants that officers may encounter.
Wagner advised that the squad room area will be moved further back in the building to a location next to the evidence storage area, which will occupy the southwest corner of the structure, an area currently part of the garage. Wagner added that a conference room will occupy the southeast corner of the building, the area formerly used as the department’s squad room.
Wagner said that plans have changed for the State-owned Datamaster intoxication testing equipment, which will instead be housed at the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Department, with the space originally designated for this equipment within the current police station to be used for another purpose, possibly a storage area.
In addition to the adjustments in layout and logistics, Wagner explained that a loft area will be used for the furnace and water heater and that insulation will be added to the outer cement block walls for improved energy efficiency, which will also eliminate condensation that has been noticeable in the corners of the garage area. For added security and improved energy efficiency, Wagner said that windows on the south wall of the structure will be completely removed with only a window at the front of the building to remain. Wagner also advised that changes to the building’s exterior will include a combination of metal siding and a stone panel facade, improving the building’s exterior appearance.
For the duration of the Police Station remodeling project this fall, the Waukon Police Department will be operating out of office space in the lower level of Waukon City Hall. During this time, the Waukon Police Department’s mailing address remains the same, 104 First Street NW, and the department’s telephone numbers and e-mail addresses also remain the same. Wagner suggested that upon completion of the project, a reopening event will take place allowing the public to tour the remodeled Waukon Police Station.
