Published Sunday, June 28, 2009 12:09 AM
Bryan to redo old PD building
By CASSIE SMITH
cassie.smith@theeagle.com
The old home of the Bryan Police Department will soon house up to 35 workers after it's converted to a City Hall annex.
The city of Bryan is planning to convert the former Police Department building into a City Hall annex with a gym and possibly a health clinic and a pharmacy for city workers.
The $2.5 million cost of the project won't affect the already hobbled general fund, because the money will come from a different account, officials said.
City administrators said that employees had outgrown the 21-year-old Municipal Building on East 29th Street and that staff members were working out of various buildings around town.
With the old police building sitting vacant across the street, city officials said, it's an opportunity too good to pass up.
City Manager David Watkins and other city officials said expanding into the building would help the city save money.
"Some of the ways I think we can cope with tight budgets ... is try to get more productivity out of your workers, and it's hard to have productivity when you don't have any room," Watkins said.
As many as 35 people would be able to work in the new facility, and almost 70 city staff members would gain some increased work space.
City officials recently reported the possibility of job cuts, along with some fee increases, because preliminary tax rolls indicate slowing growth in taxable value.
Taxable value within the city limits increased about 5.7 percent from last year's preliminary figures, to $3.7 billion. However, that 5.7 percent increase was the smallest among the government agencies in Brazos County. The general fund probably will be cut by 2 percent, to $54 million, officials said.
When asked how the city could afford to undertake such a project under the circumstances, Deputy City Manager Hugh Walker said the money would come from a fund that has a surplus.
"Over a period of years, we've developed a little bit of excess in the fund where we think we can do a $2 million project," Walker said.
Walker said it wasn't practical for the city to use the surplus to offset losses in the general fund.
"If you rely on good government practices, you don't commingle funds," he said. "That's not to say it can't be used in another way."
The Bryan City Council approved a $156,000 contract last week for Bryan-based The Arkitex Studio to draw up plans for the renovations. The project was initially approved as part of the city's 2008 capital improvements plan.
The building was constructed in 1965 as the City National Bank. In 1985, it was converted into the police headquarters. The Police Department moved into the nearby Bryan Justice Center in July 2008.
Assistant City Engineer Barney Williams said the 23,000-square-foot building at the northeast corner of Texas Avenue and 29th Street was structurally sound and worth the cost of renovations. The cost of a new building of similar capacity would be almost twice as much, he said.
Walker said that the project could help stimulate the local economy and that, with the cost of construction low, it would be a good investment.
The building was appraised at $1.6 million in 2008, but city officials have said they weren't interested in selling it because of its proximity to other city buildings.
In addition to a gym and shower facilities for city employees, the revamped building may eventually include a health and wellness center and a pharmacy, with a staff of about 10 employees, including a doctor and nurses.
Because of the cost, that part of the proposal will require a partner, Walker said, noting that officials have heard interest over the years from College Station, Brazos County and the Bryan school district.
If a partner or partners could be found, Walker said, the pharmacy and wellness center would probably be open to all employees of the involved entities and their dependents. If no partnerships could be formed, Walker said, the space could be used for meeting areas.
Construction plans should be complete by January, and construction could start by late March. Williams said employees could be using the facilities less than 18 months later.
The building's roof, windows, doors, air-conditioning and heating system and wiring and lighting system probably will be replaced, and interior features will reconfigured and refinished.
Council member Mike Southerland said a health and wellness center would be a great benefit for city employees but that in an uncertain economy, he didn't think the time was right to invest in such a large project.
"I think that right now is a time when we ought to be a little conservative," Southerland said, adding that the project was a "want," not a "need."
Comments
[comment]
24 comment(s) found!
Posted by:
Jimmy Hoffa On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 7:39 PM
Comment Title:
Tear the building down and rescue me!!
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 3:05 PM
Comment Title:
Isn't that called Narcissism.
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Posted by:
Ghetto Warrior On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:46 PM
Comment Title:
jamie we love you.
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Posted by:
On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 12:43 PM
Comment Title:
"Ya ain't foolin anybody, ya ain't Jamie cuz she dont go to cheep low class places like McDonald's." How about a low class city like Bryan?
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Posted by:
bikernammie On:
Tuesday, June 30, 2009 11:43 AM
Comment Title: Jamie the idiot
Jamie, not only are you an prejudice idiot but you can't even spell. Did you go to school in College Station? Tuesday mornings at MickeeDs it is!!
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Posted by:
Willie On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 11:15 AM
Comment Title: What happened Jamie?
I thought you said you were turning a new leaf. Moving to Bryan. I guess you told a story.
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Posted by:
Rockie Mattel On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 11:15 AM
Comment Title:
Ya ain't foolin anybody, ya ain't Jamie cuz she dont go to cheep low class places like McDonald's.
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Posted by:
Jamie@CS On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 11:10 AM
Comment Title:
"McDonald's has two breakfast tacos for just .99 cents on Tuesdays." ---------------------------- My family and I will only go to Mcdonalds in the sofisticated city of College Station. i dont want to get attaked by gangbangers in bryan lisening to jungle music.
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Posted by:
On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 10:45 AM
Comment Title: Unfiltered Comments
Thanks for the Taco post. I'll stop by one on the way to the golf course tomorrow.
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Posted by:
2 Breakfast Tacos for .99 on Tuesdays at McDonalds On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 10:32 AM
Comment Title: Unfiltered Comments
These unfiltered comments on the Eagle make this community look like its made up of a bunch of morons. That's what happens when you give idiots an open microphone. To that measure...I'll use it for something worthwhile... McDonald's has two breakfast tacos for just .99 cents on Tuesdays. I'm Lov'in it.
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Posted by:
A County Health department is down the street 2 blocks. On:
Monday, June 29, 2009 8:57 AM
Comment Title:
IS the COB, COUNCIL, and MAYOR on drugs that are sold on Bryan streets corners all over the city?
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 11:33 PM
Comment Title:
I am not referring to the laborers of COB. I am making a referrence to the CM, COUNCIL, MAYOR, and who ever else the shoe fits. One minute they don't have money to resuface streets, but they can spend millions+ to renovate a building that just a few months back was worthless to the city. Where and when will the COB stop acting like the town is a country club and start running the city and paying attention to the improtant items. Offering a gym to the employees is not a necessary item. Health care is but you already have an insurance carrier. The city can't afford the LaSalle Hotel, another blunder. Cut the loss and sell it off. Sell this building and like someone mentioned in another article, it will be back on the tax rolls paid by someone other than the taxpayers.
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Posted by:
Taxpayer and voter On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 11:00 PM
Comment Title:
It's time for a new City Manager and a new City Council. These folks have lost their minds.
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Posted by:
Lacy On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 6:24 PM
Comment Title: Bryan is great
But no one is bashing all the employees at the city. We're saying the City Manager is insane if he thinks this is in the best interest of residents. We have to drive on crappy roads and drive by crappy neighborhoods, businesses that have been shut down and then we have to listen to the CM repeatedly say his best friend Ty Morrow was let go because boo-hoo he violated policy. I love Bryan. I don't love the people in charge of our city right now though. I like the petition idea. How can we do that???? When is the next City council meeting??
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Posted by:
S. R. On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 6:21 PM
Comment Title: A gym?!
It makes sense if you're a wealthy city and aren't saying that you're going to lay off people this year...Are they really going to do this??? Why haven't heard about this before now?? Is there anyway to stop it?? A petition? My husband worked for the city for eight years and we had the benefits of getting a cheap gym membership. It's a nice notion - that healthcare costs will go down if people use this gym, but that won't translate for years to come. In the meantime we're supposed to pay for Hugh Walker's work outs??? Does anyone else find this reckless???
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Posted by:
Willie On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 3:27 PM
Comment Title: Job Cuts
I saw a comment about enough dumbbells working at the city. I would like to bet that there is also a lot of good people working at the city. Real people that have real families. Real son & daughters fixing to try and go to college or do whatever. Real life here people. I bet they would rather work in small quarters than NO quarters at all. Bryan citizens with no jobs is no good. Lets be glad some people want to work - so lets see what we can do to keep them at work.
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Posted by:
Walker said it wasn't practical for the city to use the surplus to offset losses in the general fund. On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:20 AM
Comment Title:
Fire this guy. All funds are derived by the taxpayers and/or taxpayer assets, save grants from some other government entity funded by taxpayers.
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Posted by:
The $2.5 million cost of the project won't affect the already hobbled general fund, because the money will come from a different account, officials said. On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:16 AM
Comment Title:
Damn fools - where did this money come from in the first place - the taxpayer.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:14 AM
Comment Title:
Oh good, a health and wellness center with a staff of 10 including a doctor and nurses. Just what the taxpayer needs with the declining real estate values. Brilliant, just brilliant. Fire that damn Watkins. I have seen no reason whatsoever to keep him on the payroll.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 10:11 AM
Comment Title: Makes sense actually....
If you actually think further than the surface which most of you are not - this actually kind of makes sense. I don't know if it has occurred to you or not, but with it being a municipality as tax payers we already paying for their health and their health benefits. If they are overweight, have a heart attack, diabetes, etc. - we are fronting the cost of treating them. Why not attempt to cut it off at the pass? If there is a gym on their property and it will encourage more city employees to do something about their health, then whey wouldn't we back it up?
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 9:16 AM
Comment Title:
Wasn't part of the "pitch" for the cost of the Justice Center that they wouldn't need this building and it could be rented, sold, etc. to offset the cost? I seem to remember that from a Council meeting.
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 7:27 AM
Comment Title: WHAT!?
What!? They just finished the new mega super-duper giganto JUSTICE CENTER and they still need the old building? SELL IT!!! SELL IT!!! SELL IT!!! Even if it goes for less than market value it would no longer be a burden to the taxpayers. Heck, it would be back ON the tax rolls. The idea that city employees should have their own private gym, health clinic, and pharmacy is nuts! Beware big govenment. Once you give in, it will only grow and grow and grow...
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 1:17 AM
Comment Title:
Seems city employees could go to a gym like other working people - using their own money to do so. Will we feed them next? I'm opposed to this whole idea. Watching the council meeting, it was said that only 21 people will have office space there. $2.5 million divided by 21...
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Posted by:
On:
Sunday, June 28, 2009 1:03 AM
Comment Title:
If you put a gym in the building then shouldn't we the taxpayers be abel to use the gym also. If not, then I am opposed to paying for weights & machines. We already have a few of the dumbbells working in the city. Whose idea is this anyway??? How does ANY of this help the taxpayers out. Next we will have to pay for broken machines and gatorade.
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