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NewsFebruary 14, 2001

New police, fire and public works facilities, a family aquatic center and a golf course club house -- carrying a price tag of roughly $27 million -- are on the city's short list of facilities that need to be constructed as soon as funding can be found...

New police, fire and public works facilities, a family aquatic center and a golf course club house -- carrying a price tag of roughly $27 million -- are on the city's short list of facilities that need to be constructed as soon as funding can be found.

The projects, along with floor plans and cost estimates, were unveiled Tuesday night during a meeting of the city's Planning and Zoning Commission.

In addition to other, less-pressing needs, the projects are included in the city's recently completed Future Facilities Needs Analysis and the Parks Development and Facilities Master Plan.

"We want to tell people what's in the future," said city manager Michael Miller. "There's no real time table on these projects, but we can at least give them an idea."

New fire station

Two Fire Department projects that will be given high priority are construction of a new Fire Station No. 3 on North Sprigg Street and a new training facility on South Sprigg Street.

Existing Fire Station No. 3 on Emerald Street was built in 1950. Plans for the new station call for three drive-through truck bays and a basement that will house an Emergency Operations Center.

The proposed fire training facility would be five stories with an attached burn building.

"There is no fire training facility in southeast Missouri or anywhere near to do practical fire training," said Fire Chief Dan White. He added that Fire Station No. 3 desperately needs to be rebuilt.

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Police Department plans call for renovation of the existing police station and construction of facility and parking lot additions.

Public works priorities include a new facility to replace the department's existing one at 219 N. Kingshighway.

However, said public works director Doug Leslie, the project is contingent upon successfully marketing and selling the Kingshighway property.

Parks

Priorities outlined in the Parks and Recreation Master Plan include general park improvements, such as shelters, ball fields and playgrounds.

In addition, the city wants to construct a family aquatic center at Osage Park. Plans for the center include a kids' pool, lazy river, slides, activity pool, a bathhouse, parking and concessions.

Parks Director Dan Muser said such facilities, which are not the same as water parks, are becoming more popular.

Jay Knudtson, chairman of the Parks Advisory Board, said the city needs to think ahead about recreation opportunities, especially with the gradual aging of the Capaha Park pool.

"If that pool goes down, there will be an outcry in the community," he said. "People like to have a place to swim. We're just trying to look ahead and take things to the next level."

The Parks Master Plan also calls for construction of a new club house at the city golf course. The course, which sees between 32,000 and 35,000 rounds of golf each year, has outgrown its existing club house, Muser said.

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