Hutto Police Department facilities will soon undergo renovations while awaiting new, larger headquarters, after City Council approved a $17,500 carpentry contract with OMEDA Industries on Aug. 7.

The gist

Renovations will split one existing office into two functional rooms. Project details include a new interior partition wall, door relocation and installation, electrical work and the relocation of two air vents.

The need

The renovation project comes as city officials consider construction of a new justice center. In a July meeting, Hutto Police Chief Jeffrey Yarbrough said the department’s current facility was built in 2002 to accommodate a much smaller population. In the past 22 years, the population has increased by over 1,330%, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.In a presentation by Yarbrough, he said the department’s current space is limited and that railroad tracks in front of the building prevent future expansions. He also said traffic congestion around the area has impacted call times.

While the city is considering plans to build a new police department, renovations to the current facility are making headway in the interim.

The background

The city of Hutto entered into a carpentry trade services agreement with OMEGA Industries in December.

Under the agreement, the city may contract OMEGA for future projects totaling less than $50,000. Instead of competitively bidding the police department renovation project, the city used the trade services agreement to contract OMEGA, pending the approval of City Council.

What’s next

A construction timeline has yet to be provided.