Bettendorf seeks public input on new police station
Bettendorf is looking for input on a major construction project for the city.
Due to growth in both population and area, Bettendorf city leaders decided a new police station was necessary. The City Council approved a resolution on April 1, allowing City staff to mail informational letters and surveys to all residents about the need for a new police station.
'When the U.S. Census reported that the City's population grew nearly 18% from 2010-2020, we started exploring how that rapid growth in residents would impact city services,' said Jeff Reiter, Assistant City Administrator and Economic Development Director. 'Having the Bettendorf Police Department in its own building in a centralized location can improve response times and offer greater levels of service to everyone, and now we want to know what the public thinks.'
Residents can expect an envelope in their mailboxes the week of April 14, which will include information on the challenges facing the current police station and the proposed solution for a new police station, including:
Calls for service are increasing as the city's population grows,
Response times to the north of the city are higher because the current police station is located in the southernmost part of the City's boundaries. City growth is in the northern parts.
The current police station is land-locked, has unsecure areas, poor/inadequate evidence storage, limited training space and no indoor parking for police vehicles.
The current police station was built in 1959, making it the oldest and smallest in the area.
The Bettendorf Police Department has 15,350 square feet at its current stations, which was expanded in 2000. In comparison, the Rock Island Police Department has 55,000 square feet, the Moline Police Department has 67,000 square feet and the Davenport Police Department has 138,000 square feet.
The City already owns land near its Public Works Annex, which is centrally located. After consulting with architects and construction companies, the City has determined that the land is big enough to hold a 38,000-square-foot police station with secure areas, dedicated training spaces, a garage and space for future growth. The City determined it is less expensive to build a new police station than to relocate City Hall and expand the current police station.
In order to pay for a new police station, 60% of Bettendorf voters would need to approve a bond referendum, which would allow the City to take out a loan (issue) debt. Bettendorf has created an estimation for every address to see the tax impacts on their properties. Click here to see a property's estimation.
Residents are also encouraged to take the survey that will be mailed to them or fill it out online. The link to the online survey will be in the letters and the survey is confidential. All responses will be collected by an independent research firm, presented to City Council, then posted on the City's website. The deadline to complete the survey is Monday, May 5.
Bettendorf is also hosting two meetings so residents can learn more about the proposed project and have questions answered. The meetings will be on Monday, April 28 and Wednesday, April 30 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State Street.
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