Crystal Thomas
The State Journal-Register
With the hopes of solidifying Springfield’s reputation as leaders in canine policing, the Springfield City Council voted Tuesday to accept a bid to build a new no-frills police dog training facility. The 9-1 vote authorized no more than $460,000 be spent on the facility at 3501 Color Plant Road.
Police Chief Kenny Winslow said that though the new building will be a “square slab,” the bid was the lowest that the city could get. The building will be used not only to train and house the city’s seven canine units but also to train dogs from the surrounding area.
The project has been two years in the making. In the last two years, the city has set aside a total of $400,000 for the project and authorized another $60,000 Tuesday.
There is no timeline for when the building will be finished. The original bid planned to break ground in October, but with winter now around the corner, the completion date isn’t predictable, Winslow said. Tuesday’s vote, however, locked in the price. The building is estimated to last for 40 to 50 years, the chief said.
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Ward 7 Ald. Joe McMenamin voted against the bid, saying he wanted to see other law enforcement departments that would benefit from the facility, including Sangamon County’s canine unit, share in the costs.
Joe McMenamin for Ward 7 