Local officials are scheduled to begin construction in March for new police and public works buildings at an estimated cost of $24.9 million.
Wilmer Police and Public Works currently share a facility with other city offices on North Dallas Avenue between East Belt Line Road and 1st Street in Wilmer.
According to a state filing, an 18,545-square-foot public safety building will include offices, a dispatch center, and a detention area. Another filing shows that the public works building will have workshops, offices, and storage rooms, including a 5,655-square-foot pre-engineered metal building.
The new facilities will be built on 1201 N. North Goode Rd.
“These projects have been in the works for about three years,” city administrator Rona Stringfellow told The Dallas Express in an email.
“There is an upcoming agenda (February) in which the architects and consultants will outline the entire process once they have processed all of the bids. Construction is being funded from prior issued certificate of obligation bonds,” added Stringfellow.
“Our work with the City of Wilmer began with a planning exercise,” the firm’s project details show. “Analysis of their existing facilities and programming for current needs and future growth determined a direction forward for the city. Wilmer Police and Wilmer Public Works are the first facilities in design.”
Wilmer’s annual budget is about $10 million. Texas law allows municipalities and other political subdivisions to use certificates of obligation without voter approval to fund new construction, restoration, and demolition and to buy equipment, supplies, materials, and land. The certificates are issued for up to 40 years and are backed by property taxes or other local revenue.
The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filings list Utah-based GSBS Architects as the design firm.