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<br />December 8, 2002 <br /> <br />To: Honorable Mayors and Council Members <br />Mike Delmont, Administrator, City of Lexington <br />James Keinath, Administrator, City of Circle Pines <br />Kim Moore-Sykes, Administrator, City of Centerville <br /> <br />From: Karen Varian, Chair <br />Centennial Lakes Police Commission <br /> <br />Re: Health and Safety Concerns of CLPD Employees <br /> <br />The Police Commission received a signed memo from the employees of the Centennial <br />Lakes Police Department (CLPD) on November 14,2002 (letter enclosed). Ms. Gerry <br />Rismoen gave a presentation to the Commission on behalf of department employees. Ms. <br />Rismoen outlined both immediate health and safety concerns and the need for long-term <br />solutions to facility problems. <br /> <br />In the letter employees' state, "We have respectfully requested that a new police <br />facility be constructed." They also request, "that an outside consultant immediately be <br />retained to evaluate the liabilities of our current facilities and to assess the costs <br />necessary to add to our present location those areas that are essential to our safety <br />and well being" <br /> <br />Background <br />The police commission has been actively discussing the issue of facility improvements this <br />past year. Several years ago, a task force looked into the issues that still confront the <br />department today. City Administrators have recently responded to a request by the <br />Commission to look at the issue as well. There are several reasons why action has not been <br />taken and the foremost is uncertainty over funding and the budget cutbacks that the State <br />may impose in the next biennium to cities. The options before the Cities are to take no <br />action, fix the problems at police headquarters, lease new space, build new space, share <br />space or merge with other departments, to name a few. It is doubtful that a major expansion <br />of facilities can occur unless the citizens in each City approve. <br /> <br />Immediate Action Needed <br />Regardless of the long-term facility questions, there is an immediate need to provide a <br />healthful work environment for CLPD employees. The CLPD currently leases space from the <br />City of Circle Pines until the year 2011. What are the obligations of the lessor to fix the health <br />and sanitary conditions that exist in the facility? Can the issues of mold and mildew be <br />