By Glenn Rolfe

DAGSBORO — Schematic floor drawings are up for review as the town aims to move forward with plans for a new police station and community/council meeting room that will connect to the current Town Hall on Main Street.

With hopes for good news on the town’s latest request for state bond bill funds and a favorable bid process, town leaders have been given a ballpark figure of $3 million to $4 million for the project.

However, given the current construction climate, Town Administrator Cindi Brought believes it could be substantially more.

“Honestly, we’re thinking closer to $5 million or $6 million,” Ms. Brought said.

Town leaders abandoned an initial two-story facility proposed in February 2021, and with an adjoining property gifted to the town by current Mayor William Chandler and the purchase of another property, there is more space for the one-story complex and more options for parking, the entrance and exit.

Dagsboro Police Chief Steve Flood anticipates some minor tweaks to the schematic plans prepared by Davis, Bowen & Friedel.

“That’s probably a solid floor plan that we’re going to go with, with some minor changes,” said Chief Flood. “We’re taking our time on it. I want to get it right. I don’t want to say, ‘Boy, I wish we did this …’”

At present, the town has approximately $ 2 million for the project. In addition to the police portion, the project includes a town hall lobby, offices, storage, and a break room to be shared to town staff and police. The community room would be used for town council meetings, currently held at the Bethel Center on Clayton Street, and other meetings.

Ms. Brought said she has submitted a request for another $1 million from the state bond bill to be addressed this spring by the General Assembly. The town is also seeking other funding sources, including one through the University of Delaware that could aid funding of the police department, Ms. Brought said.

The hope is that the project will go out for construction bids sometime this year.

Ms. Brought said AECOM consultant Kyle Gulbronson has indicated that “it might take a year and a half for construction, the way things are going.”

The town police force, which has increased in recent years, currently operates out of a modified, expanded shed behind the town hall. That structure will be razed when the new station is completed.