Bettendorf residents soon will have a chance to weigh in on a proposed new police station to address the city’s growing population and the current station’s limitations.
The Bettendorf City Council approved plans to mail an informational letter and survey to all residents. The survey seeks input on the necessity and financial feasibility of a new police station. Surveys should arrive the week of April 14.
The current police station, built in 1959, is the oldest and smallest in the Quad Cities area. The city says it’s too small for the growing population and has inadequate evidence storage, limited training space, and no indoor parking for police vehicles.
The proposed new station would span 38,000 square feet and be built on city-owned land near the city’s Public Works Annex. The estimated cost has not been released.
Residents can learn more about the proposed station at two public meetings on Monday, April 28, and and Wednesday, April 30. The survey deadline is Monday, May 5.
Although a total cost hasn’t been established, the city said to pay for a new police station at least 60% of Bettendorf voters would need to approve a bond referendum. The approval would allow the city to take out a loan (issue debt) for the project.Â
To help residents see the tax impact of different cost scenarios, the city has created an estimation for every address that can be assessed by visiting www.bettendorf.org/MyAddress.
