For Immediate Release | April 26, 2016
 

Town Hall Relocation Moves Forward with Ballot Question for New Police Station

Independent consultant concludes renovation more expensive than relocation - Ballots due May 3^rd

Avon, CO – Avon voters are reminded that May 3^rd is the deadline to return ballots. The Avon ballot question addresses financing the proposed new Avon Police Station: 
 

Without raising any taxes, shall Ordinance No. 16-02 be approved and shall the Avon Town Council thereby be authorized to use certificate of participation financing, with a principal amount not to exceed $6.5 million, to construct a new police station facility in accordance with the terms of Ordinance No. 16-02?  
YES____________                                             NO_____________
 

Avon Town Councilor Sarah Smith Hymes stated, “We knew something had to be done to remedy the deterioration of the current Town Hall. We hired SEH, an architectural and engineering firm, to provide an objective analysis of the building and our options for fixing it. Their work, completed last August, concluded that renovation to repair and bring the building up to code was more costly than other options. Moving town hall operations to the Mountain Vista Office building (otherwise known as the Skier Building) and relocating the police to a new joint public safety building, with the Eagle River Fire Protection District, was the least expensive solution. Council moved forward with this plan, with the approval on April 12^th to purchase of the Mountain Visa Office Building, for $1.5 million in cash. Finishing the building interior will be funded through the Avon Urban Renewal Authority.”
 
The Town and the Eagle River Fire Protection District collaborated extensively on the programming and design of the joint facility to ensure it will meet future growth needs without being overbuilt.  Moving to the Swift Gulch/Nottingham Road site gets emergency responders out of the congested town core and close to I-70, which will improve response times for both agencies.  Based upon current contractor pricing, the Avon Police building will not exceed $6.5 million, including land purchase and contingencies. 
 
No new taxes are required for the new police station or the purchase and completion of the Mountain Vista Office Building.
 
The election is a mail-in ballot, however, ballots may be dropped at Town Hall, One Lake Street, not later than 7:00 p.m. on May 3^rd.
 
For more information, please contact Sarah Smith Hymes at shymes@avon.org.