BOZEMAN — The City of Bozeman is one step closer to having its new Public Safety Center.
In 2018, Bozeman voters approved $37 million-dollar project.
The new Public Safety Center will house city police, fire, municipal courts and victim services under the same roof.
Deputy Chief Jim Veltkamp says the new building will help increase a stronger partnership with city agencies and residents.
“This is a community building. It’s a building where not only do we have, for example, a community room off the lobby that will be available to public groups,” said Veltkamp, “It’s a place for all the departments that are going to be housed in it to meet with citizens of the community.”
The preliminary design of the building has already been approved by the voters.
The next step was to find a construction manager.
“Last [Monday] night, the city commission approved the contract with Langlas and Associates, who are going to be our general contractor, construction manager for the project,” said Chuck Winn, Bozeman’s assistant city manager.
“It completes our team so now we can get going full speed,” said Winn.
The city was able to save some money by using a similar building design of a safety center that was proposed and failed to pass back in 2014.
The big change to the new plan was adding the fire station to the north end.
“We’re looking forward to being housed together in one building that’s specifically designed for this purpose and allows us to see each other, interact more with each other informally and hopefully develop better working relationships with all the other city departments that are also going to be housed there,” Veltkamp said.
The city can expect to see some demolition on the future site off Rouse Avenue between Tamarack Street and Oak Street.
Construction of the Public Safety Center is expected to begin in spring of 2020.
