Laserfiche WebLink
Gem Lake News Page 4 of 8 <br /> <br /> New Public Safety Building on Display to the Public <br /> <br />A large and enthusiastic crowd attended a ribbon cutting <br />ceremony and open house on August 22, showcasing <br />the newly renovated and expanded White Bear Lake <br />Public Safety Building. The new facility is a giant leap <br />forward for the first responders who serve our <br />community, including the White Bear Police and Fire <br />Departments. It includes a large indoor parking garage <br />for police vehicles, greatly expanded fire apparatus <br />bays, new living quarters for fire fighters on duty, <br />decontamination areas for equipment coming off of fire <br />incidents, training facilities, and much more. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Planning for the project began back in 2019, when the <br />White Bear Lake City Council recognized the need for <br />improvement. The lack of indoor parking, training and <br />living facilities, insufficient equipment bays for fire trucks <br />were some of the major concerns. According to the <br />former White Bear Lake Mayor, Jo Emerson, “It was <br />clearly needed.” <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The new facility is located in downtown White Bear Lake, <br />adjacent to the White Bear Lake City Hall on Highway 61. <br />The White Bear Fire Department provides public safety <br />coverage to The Cities of Birchwood, White Bear Lake, <br />Dellwood, and Gem Lake, as well as White Bear <br />Township. White Bear Police provides coverage to White <br />Bear Lake and Gem Lake. <br /> <br /> <br />The project was designed by Wold Architects and <br />Engineers. Construction began in 2023 and completed in <br />2024. The main goal of the project, according to White <br />Bear City Manager Lindy Crawford, was to “enhance our <br />first responders’ ability to deliver the highest level of <br />public safety to our service community.” <br /> <br /> <br />