Majority at public hearing say no to bond for police station

Nearly 30 people attended the New Prague City Council’s Monday, June 2, meeting, the majority there for the public hearing on the general obligation bonds to pay for the construction of the city’s new police station. Of the nine people who spoke during the public hearing, the majority voiced opposition to the proposed $10,415,000 general obligation Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) bonds.

Despite their opposition, the council voted, 3-1, on two resolutions. The first to approve a CIP and giving preliminary approval to the issuance of CIP plan bonds and the second for the issuance and sale of general obligation bonds in the amount of $10,415,000. Councilor Shawn Ryan cast the only no vote both times.

The new police station is to be built as an addition to the current fire station at 505 Fifth Ave. NW.

Councilor Maggie Bass explained the city had a facility study done by a third party which found the current police station to be inadequate for parking and for holding investigations. There was no space to expand and there was only one office for the city’s two detectives, she said. She said the information was public and could be found online.

Ryan said a lot of ideas about a new police station had been kicked around, including the building of a new government center that would include a city hall and police station. Ryan admitted while the current police station was not ideal he felt it was enough for the eight hours when there were several officers on duty and the other 16 hours when only two patrol officers were on duty. He said the plans for the new police station was for the city to grow, but he felt growth has slowed. He saw the new police station to be a want and not a need.

Ryan noted other communities were able to put up police stations for less. He gave as an example Montgomery, which...

To see more on this story pick up the June 5, 2025 print edition of The New Prague Times.