Kasson City Council Public Hearing Capital Improvements Plan

1. Kasson City CouncilPublic Hearing Capital Improvements Plan October 26, 2005

2. Facilities with Space Needs • - Fire Dept • Built in 1958, remodeled in 1978 • - Library • Moved into current facility in 1989 • - Police Dept • - City Council/Community Meeting Space • Moved into this facility in 1996

3. Goals • Use land we already own • Keep property acquisition costs low, now and in the future • Take as little additional property off the tax rolls as possible • Take as long-term a view as we can afford

4. Fire Department • Options • Do nothing • Build new in a new location • Land cost • Relocation issues • Build new on existing site • Land cost • Cost of new construction • Move into Public Works building • No relocation issues • No land acquisition • Costs less to renovate an existing building • Not landlocked, with room to expand on-site for many years • No additional land off the tax rolls • Put a property on the tax rolls

5. Public Works • Fewer space issues, but departments are growing and office space is not ideal • 40 hour/week operation gets new building • Not as necessary to be centrally located

6. Public Works Options • Do nothing • Can’t, air quality and roofing issues that would need to be addressed anyway • Relocate to another part of town • Land acquisition/tax roll issue • Relocate to WWTP • Land already owned by the City • Plenty of land for current project and future expansion • All main Public Works departments operating out of the same location

7. Library • Started working on this about seven years ago • Currently is a 2400 square foot facility • Needs assessment done 6 years ago called for 10,000 square feet with expansion to 15,000 in 10-15 years

8. Library Options • Do nothing • Expand on site • Landlocked and land acquisition in area expensive • Build in a new location • Location criteria – near central business district • Looked at several locations • Folkestad’s Garage - Land acquisition $350,000 or more, plus environmental cleanup • Lions Park - Council chose not to move forward with that option • Remaining suitable location – Old Elementary School • Land acquisition reasonable • Takes no more land off the tax rolls • Is centrally located – still near the downtown • Puts existing library on the tax rolls

9. City Hall Options • Do nothing • Council Chambers too small • No room for expansion of Admin Staff • Move Police into Fire Station and renovate City Hall • Convert garage area into meeting space • Convert Council Chambers into office space • Build joint facility with Library on Old Elementary School site • Library and Council share meeting/program space • Puts two City functions under one roof • Police can use the current City Hall with minor alterations

10. Police Department Options • Do nothing • Cramped office space • No interview room • Move into Fire Station • Take over City Hall • Move into new joint facility with City Hall and Library

11. City Center Project on Old School Site • Demolish old and build new • Plenty of room • Puts up to three City departments in one place • Shared meeting/programming and training room • Removes significant building • Renovate the existing building • Already set up for office/library space in each wing with shared meeting space in the middle • 12,000 square feet for Library • 6,000 square feet for Admin • Plenty of room for council meeting/library programs in center • Police Station on 2nd floor with garage addition • Old gym area available for various community uses • Possibly room for a Chamber office • Saves a significant building • Puts existing Fire Hall and City Hall back on the tax rolls

12. Goals • Use land we already own • Keep property acquisition costs low, now and in the future • Take as little additional property off the tax rolls as possible • Take as long-term a view as we can afford