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Start over to plan police station
(by Barbara Christian - November 12, 2009)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Start over to plan police station
It would be a mistake to blame a bad economy as the only reason voters said no to the bond issue for a new Chagrin Falls police station.
It was more of what Strother Martin's character said to Paul Newman in the movie "Cool Hand Luke": "What we have is failure to communicate."
Was it the voters who did not understand what was being asked of them? Seems like it. Why would they vote down the bond issue to build a new police station but say yes to the levy that would operate it.
It would be a mistake to blame it all on the voters. Village leaders can take a share of the accountability too. Did they pay enough attention to residents who said they wanted their police in the center of town, not on Solon Road at the edge of town? Did town leaders dismiss these voices as from a dissident few?
If so, then they made a big mistake. They also forgot the basic principle when considering real estate. Location. Location. Location. The location remained on Solon Road.
Size and costs were other concerns, and they have been from the get-go. A good-faith effort was made to accommodate those concerns. The village and its architect reduced the size of the building by removing the second floor and cutting $1 million in the cost. It was simply not enough.
It's unknown at this writing what the mayor and Village Council will decide to do now that the police station bond has failed for a second time.
May we humbly suggest that they start over, and this time it would be wise to involve residents as early and as often as possible.
Begin with a charette. Let area architects and designers (there are a lot of them without work right now) choose a site from the village-owned properties available. Each would then create a plan using the police department's space, use and work-flow requirements. Three-dimensional models should be required for laymen who cannot read plans. Set a deadline for completion of these entries, then stage a week or two public exhibit in Town Hall.
Then call a town meeting and let people voice their opinions, ask questions and make suggestions. Good ideas are good ideas, and they don't always come from small, hand-picked citizens committees.
The more ideas and insights the better, if leaders want a successful outcome at the ballot box. Enthusiasm and interest are generated, and residents gain a sense of ownership in the project.
The cost of maintaining the building should be considered during the process and is important in getting people to understand why they cannot vote for one and against the other.
The village has used this method before when considering other town improvements, and it should have been done for the police station when planning began three years ago. A new police station for Chagrin Falls has produced a learning curve for all of us.
Classify it under the heading "Live and Learn." It's never too late.
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