The cost of architectural options that would take the Minot Police Department’s facilities into the future range from $46 million to $70.7 million, according to information presented to the Minot City Council Monday.

Mike Clark, who works with the civic sector portfolio of EAPC, an engineering and architecture firm, presented the results of a space needs study to the council. The council received the report without taking any action.

“Many of the mechanical systems are reaching the end of expected life,” Clark said of the existing building. “Electrical systems have been upgraded on occasion but not in a consistent manner. So when you walk through the building, you’re going to see aging lighting in parts of the building. You might see upgraded lighting in other parts of the building.”

The existing building also is a mix of well organized spaces and disjointed spaces, he said.

“The Police Department took over parts of the fire department at one point in time. There was an addition at one point in time, and now city hall has moved out,” he said. “We’re taking a look at the whole building and saying, ‘How do we make this efficient and workable?'”

He also talked about the need for more police personnel and more space as the city’s population grows. The existing area of the building is 41,150 square feet. To meet the demand based on projected growth over 25 years, the space need is calculated at 75,209 square feet.

Among improvements envisioned is a garage for vehicles to protect that investment that now sits outside. A proposed design includes use of the vacant, city-owned property south of the police station for construction of a special operations building for the bomb squad, critical response unit, bicycle unit and other functions and construction of a municipal court, with associated parking for both.

Clark said the design of the separate buildings on additional land is not ideal, especially for municipal court. Access to the court still would be problematic on that site, he said.

“The entire team pretty much agrees that this is not the best location for municipal court. We were not tasked with finding the best location for municipal court so we stopped at that location, or that step,” he said.

Looking at a list of pros and cons, the renovation plan includes these positive points:

-Solves space needs for 25 years while continuing to use a building that has some years of use remaining.

-Improves efficiency, privacy and security for officers and the public.

-Provides vehicle storage.

-Centrally located facility.

Among negative points are:

-Uses all available space on the site, challenging any future expansion.

-Numerous level changes throughout the building would remain.

-Special Operations would be on adjacent site rather than co-located.

-Municipal court is not adequately resolved.

-Renovations will disrupt operations.

-Ongoing investment into a building that is near the railroad tracks and floodplain.

The estimated cost of construction-only in a renovation project is $34.7 million to $38.9 million. New construction could cost up to $52.9 million. With all development costs, including construction considered, the estimate is $46 million to $52.1 million for renovation and $62.4 million to $70.7 million for a new facility on different land.

However, Clark also presented figures over a longer term scenario that showed the city would spend $217 million over 50 years to maintain a workable building if it goes the renovation route. Starting over new, although having higher upfront costs, would cost $100.8 million in total over the 50 years.

Police Chief John Klug declined to offer an opinion on the two courses of action at this time.

“We’ve only invested what we’ve needed to, to keep that building usable. If there’s a safety concern, a mechanical issues, those are the investments we’re making,” he said.

Council member Stephan Podrygula questioned whether planning past 25 years is useful because it can be difficult to know what needs will be beyond that time. Also, he questioned public support for the construction cost of a new facility.

Council member Lisa Olson said the study that began last January was long but informative in helping answer the question of whether renovating or building new might provide the best option for the future.

“We have really good information in front of us, so I’m grateful for the work that EAPC has done and I look forward to the conversation that we’re going to have,” she said. “But I think we have a little bit better idea of some of the questions that we need answers to.”