The Town of Hanover has decided to move forward with a new police station, following a unanimous vote at their July 15, 2024 meeting.
Council endorsed a phased three-year levy increase starting in 2025 to fund the long-term loan repayment for the new facility.
The decision was based on the Hanover Police Service Station Review Ad Hoc Committee Report, received on June 17, 2024, which highlighted the need for a new station due to increased service demands, such as more calls for service, longer prisoner holds, and the need for virtual bail court hearings, alongside current facility deficiencies and space constraints.
Mayor Sue Paterson emphasized the importance of the new station for community safety.
"This new building is a crucial component for our police service to perform their duties effectively. Our community is engaged and supports our local police, and we all want a safe community. We need this new building to make that possible," Patterson said.
Mayor Paterson says the new police station will be located at the soon-to-be former firehall on 10th Avenue, adjacent to the Civic Centre, providing a strategic, central location.
"The police like to be part of the community. They patrol Main Street and respond to many service calls downtown, so they want to be where the people are," she added.
The project, estimated to cost $8.6 million, will be funded through a phased levy increase over three years, minimizing the immediate financial impact on residents.
"We are going to phase this in over three years," Paterson explained. "A levy increase so when we start the loan repayment, it won't be such a hard hit on everyone."
Next steps include finalizing the project terms of reference by fall 2024, with design work set for 2025, procurement and construction beginning in 2026, and the facility expected to be completed in 2027.
