Whitman: Town looking at future building projects in wake of police station completion

With a public dedication set for September for the town of Whitman’s first major ‘new building’ in the last 25 years, town officials are beginning to look at what’s next for building projects in town, now that the Whitman Police Department is fully functional out of their new police station on Essex Street

Town Administrator Frank Lynam says a long-range facility study done a few years back will help.

“Needs that still exist, and needs that are actually very critical, are the public works facility and the council on aging,” said Lynam.  “Public works in particular because the buildings they are operating out of are a steel building constructed in the 70s and a block building constructed in the 20s, and these facilities are grossly inadequate.”

Lynam says that, unfortunately, the high cost for projects like these will force the town to plan over a long period of time in order to work them into the capital budget.

“We should be looking at building facilities and capital plans over ten years and longer,” said Lynam. “I would guess that it would be a few years at least until we are prepared to take on another the project,” said Lynam.

Lynam says the police officers moved into their new station at 20 Essex Street last Monday. Town officials had initially hoped for the 16-thousand square foot, two-story building to be completed by April.

The building will be dedicated in a ceremony on September 11th.