Site work, paving, outdoor lighting and new construction of a mixed-use development in Owatonna, Minnesota. Design plans call for outdoor lighting for a fire / police facility; for site work for a fire / police facility; for the construction of a 40,500-square-foot fire / police facility; 58,000-square-foot fire / police facility; and for paving for a fire / police facility.

https://finance-commerce.com/2026/09/owatonna-police-station-north-street/ Owatonna officials are proposing a new site for the planned police station on North Street near Cash Wise. The city moved away from its original West Hills site after residents raised concerns about its location in a historic district. Voters will decide Nov. 3 whether to authorize up to $65 million in bonds for new police and fire facilities. The city of Owatonna has a new site in mind for its proposed police station, a change that comes less than two months before residents vote on a $65 million bond referendum that would pay for the law enforcement facility and a new fire station. Owatonna officials initially planned to build the 60,130-square-foot police station on a city-owned site in the West Hills area, but residents pushed back on that plan because the property is in a historic district. After evaluating other potential sites, the city announced Friday that it's pivoting to a new location -- a vacant lot and former Cemstone property on North Street next to the Cash Wise property. "As circumstances changed, new opportunities emerged, and staff heard from residents, it was important for us to continue evaluating all viable options," City Administrator Jenna Tuma said in a statement. "This recommendation reflects a balanced assessment of multiple factors to determine what will best serve the community moving forward while minimizing the impact on taxpayers." The North Street property makes sense in part because the city already owns the land. What's more, it would create a "productive use" for a site that has been difficult to develop, according to the city. Annie Harman, the city's communications specialist, said Monday that the North Street site has been tricky to develop in part because of land ownership limitations. In July, she said, the city acquired the parcels needed to build the police station there. The new location will be up for city council approval Tuesday night. On Nov. 3, city residents will vote on a plan to authorize up to $65 million in bonds for the new police and fire facilities. The proposed 42,300-square-foot fire station would rise on the site of the city's existing law enforcement center. The estimated cost of the new facilities is $61 million. The referendum would also cover demolition of the current law enforcement center and renovation of a building to temporarily house police functions during construction, among other scopes of work. City documents reveal that Owatonna's police and fire stations face "serious health, safety and infrastructure problems," which make it harder for first responders to deliver emergency services. Built in 1906, the fire station "hasn't been significantly updated in nearly 30 years," the city says on its project webpage. Harmon said it was built at a time when the firefighters used horses and is no longer suitable for modern firefighting. "There's a shortage of training spaces. There's a shortage of showers. They have to back into the garage in order to safely park because otherwise they're trying to maneuver through a tight alley space in the back," Harman added. The city is working with Minneapolis-based ICS on design and planning for the new fire station, which would feature gear storage areas, decontamination rooms, and apparatus bays compatible with modern fire trucks. Also included in the project are appropriately sized training rooms, rest and recovery spaces, and "proper ventilation to reduce exposure to harmful substances," according to the city. For its part, the new police station would offer secure holding areas, private interview rooms, evidence processing and storage spaces, training and fitness amenities, and decontamination facilities, among other features. The existing police station was built as a bank in the 1960s. Among other shortcomings, the building doesn't include a private place for victims who come in to report a crime, Harman said. In addition, Harman said, police officers use what they refer to as a "broom closet" for a holding cell, because they don't have proper lockup or detention facilities onsite for that purpose. In September 2025, the city purchased a vacant building on Bridge Street to function as a temporary home for the police department during the construction of the new stations. The Owatonna School District was the seller. If voters approve the bond referendum, city officials will immediately seek bids to remodel the Bridge Street building for its temporary use, Harman said. Bidding for the new police facility is expected to begin in spring 2027. ____________ https://www.hometownsource.com/apgstate/owatonna-formally-recognizes-reverse-referendum-petition-on-fire-police-facilities/article_ee5c8eee-c637-5e1f-9e42-fa189676b44d.html Owatonna City Council has formally recognized a community-organized effort to halt the construction of new police and fire department facilities until a public vote can be held. _____________________ Plans call to construct new, separate police and fire facilities. A new fire station approximately 40,500 square-foot at the current Law Enforcement Center property. A new police department at the West Hills Campus consists of 58,000 square-foot As of March 20, 2026, the project is in design. The construction document completion timeline is scheduled for June. A tentative bid schedule for contractors is scheduled for June 2026. Construction is slated to begin in early 2027, with substantial completion date of Spring 2028.