Lanesborough Police See 3-5 Years In 'Temporary' Station
LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — The Police Department will likely be in its "temporary" location for three to five years and now wishes to expand the space.
The Select Board voted on Monday to give Chief Robert Derksen and Town Administrator Gina Dario the authority to have conversations with the 545 South Main St. landlord about renting an abutting space if it becomes available.
"It's a good location while the town decides if they're going to build or not," Derksen said.
"I mean, even if the town were to approve a building today, you're still talking two years out so realistic projection is still three to five years we're going to probably be at that location."
About two years ago, the board approved $65,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds for a two-year lease of the temporary police building as the Police Station Building Committee continued discussing its concerns with the site of a proposed new station. The police moved into the space in August 2022 and rent will have to be budgeted beginning fiscal year 2025.
Last year, town voters shot down a proposed $5.9 million public safety complex at 405 South Main St., at the former Skyline Country Club.
A new Public Safety Building Committee is working to come up with a solution that is more palatable to voters but in the meantime, the police will pay about $1,400 a month or $16,800 for a year for the current space.
While there are struggles with traffic on the main road and a lack of space, it is said to be a "dramatic improvement" from the previous station that the force could no longer inhabit due to poor conditions.
After speaking to the landlord, Derksen learned that the tenant of the space next door may not renew the lease that is up in June. The space has two more bathrooms and a shower but would need to be outfitted with an office and storage room for the police.
He has spoken to Dario about the possibility of putting a warrant article on the town meeting for a lease of the additional space if it becomes available, not yet knowing what the monthly rent would cost. The police will likely need more than two years in the space and the chief wondered if they could get a cheaper price for both units if they signed a three-year lease.
"This is something the town will need to determine how it's going to approach the current lease and whether it gets absorbed into our operating budget," Dario said. "Or potentially, you could look at an article to manage the lease arrangements."
Derksen also reported that the landlord is happy with the police as tenants.
"He couldn't be happier with us. He is very excited to have us and he's gotten great feedback from the other tenants," he said.
Tags: Lanesborough Police Station,
