The details
Council members approved the contract during their Aug. 25 meeting.
Roman Forest City Engineer Greg Phipps said the roughly $350,000 addition to the station should be set to go out to bid by the end of October.
Phipps noted council members are projected to vote on confirming a contractor for the project by the end of November.
A closer look
Once the project is complete, RFPD Captain Jeff Campbell said half of the existing police department will be converted into additional space for City Hall. Campbell noted the police department is set to gain roughly 2,000 additional square feet of space with the addition.
In March, RFPD Chief Stephen Carlisle said the department has been housed in the same facility since 1996.
While Carlisle said the city has invested in several upgrades and renovations at the station since 1996, he said the city’s rapidly growing population necessitated the new addition.
According to data provided by the U.S. Census Bureau, Roman Forest’s population rose from 1,555 residents in 2018 to 2,832 residents in 2023—a roughly 82% increase.
What’s next
While Carlisle said officials are aiming to begin construction by the end of 2025, he noted the department will have a better idea of a construction timeline once the design is completed and the project goes out to bid.
