Village of Plover unveils plans for future standalone police department
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By Brandi Makuski
PLOVER — The village of Plover is making plans for the next 50 years.
The village’s Police and Fire Commission on Sept. 17 saw a presentation from Police Chief Ryan Fox on the possible future police department. Fox presented some fairly detailed blueprints created by Keller Inc., a commercial construction company.
The Commission will see another plan for a new fire department from Fire Chief Mark Deaver in October.
Village Administrator Steve Kunst said the plans had a long journey before becoming a reality, and stressed the importance of informing and engaging the public.
Fox expressed excitement about the project, which has been in the making for several years and gained new momentum under former Chief Dan Ault.
“After almost 25 years, we’re finally at a point where we have plans and a location. It’s an incredible milestone,” Fox said.
The new police department will be a one-story building located on the northeast corner of the current municipal property (2400 Post Rd.), facing School St. Fox highlighted that the design incorporates an abundance of natural light, a feature chosen to promote mental health among staff.
The building will include a community room that can be used for public meetings, an emergency operation center, and training for both the police and fire departments. The facility will also feature a workout room accessible to all village employees, with secure entry to ensure public safety.
Fox outlined the building’s layout, including a sally port for secure prisoner transport, a covered garage, and expanded office space for detectives, records specialists, and other staff. Plans also account for future growth, with flexible office configurations designed to accommodate the police department’s needs over the next several decades.
“This is a 50-year plan,” Fox said. “We’re trying to predict what the village will need in terms of police resources long into the future.”
Fox noted the cramped conditions in the current police department, which was originally built for a staff of about 10 but now houses 25 employees. “It’s not a conducive working environment,” he said, encouraging village officials to tour the current facility to better understand the limitations.
The new building will also consolidate the police department’s evidence and impound storage, which is currently housed off-site. The facility will include secure indoor and outdoor impound areas and a mezzanine level for additional storage.
Police and Fire Commissioner Steve Hodgson praised the forward-thinking design, noting the importance of planning for the village’s future growth. “The theme throughout this project has been the future — not just dealing with today’s issues but looking decades ahead,” Hodgson said.
Kunst said that the new facility is part of a larger effort to meet the village’s long-term public safety needs. The current municipal center, which is approaching 50 years old, was designed with future growth in mind, and the new police department will continue that legacy, he said.
Officials plan to present the designs to the public and village board in the coming months as they move toward finalizing the project’s budget and timeline.
“This is about addressing our space needs responsibly, with an eye on the future,” Kunst said. “We’re making sure we’re not just building something for today but for the next 50 years.”
The new police department will be part of a phased approach to upgrading the village’s public safety facilities, with a similar project for the fire department under consideration.