The Shalimar Police Department celebrated the opening of its new headquarters with a public Social Hour and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

• The event, which included food and beverages, began with a social hour at 5:00 PM, followed by the official ribbon cutting at 6:00 PM.

Mayor Mark Franks revealed that the project was largely financed through Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF), established by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. The town secured $417,000 in ARPA funding in 2021 for the project.

Initially, plans called for constructing a new 1,000-square-foot building. However, when a property at 6 Cherokee Rd. became available, officials decided to remodel the existing 1941 structure instead. The property, similar in size and layout to the proposed new construction, was previously owned by Lateresa Kellock, a former Town Clerk from the early 1970s.

Contractor bids for the remodel ranged from $800,000 to $1.2 million. To reduce costs, Special Projects Commissioner Brian Taylor volunteered to manage the project. Taylor, who has a background in construction, oversaw permitting, contracting, quality control, and design oversight.

• “Brian undertook all the permitting, letting of contracts, quality control, and design oversight,” Franks said. “He personally did electrical, plumbing and carpentry work on many weekends to keep the project on track despite numerous structural and design changes that were uncovered during the remodel process.”

The final cost of the project, including the property purchase and original engineering expenses, totaled $508,000 — less than half of the lowest contractor bid.

In recognition of Taylor’s efforts, the Town Commission dedicated the building to him and presented him with a plaque to be displayed in the police station.

“What a fantastic job and effort for the Shalimar taxpayers!” Franks said.

The new police department building represents a significant upgrade for the Shalimar community, providing modern facilities for law enforcement operations while preserving a piece of the town’s history.