It’s been a year in the making, and now Dade City’s brand-new city hall and police department are next door to each other.
The new government complex, which is located at 38020 Meridian Ave., represents a fresh start for both the Dade City Police Department and City Hall.
“We tried to bring in some of the historical features of the downtown and also some newer technology,” City Manager Billy Poe said.
Both were in old, degrading buildings, but now the police department is outfitted with a lot more safety features like a safe room right when you walk in.
“If somebody feels like they’re in danger, they can come right into that room, shut the door, it’s safe in there,” said Chief Velboom. “Then an officer can access them and bring them into the building.”
The department has been upgraded with its own emergency operations center/training center.
All officers have space to work. Even the department's K-9 unit has a large kennel and outdoor area.
The sally port is also safer for officers because of new technology. Now it's lined with a black duress strip.
“If an officer got somebody out from the car and they start fighting them they can just bump up against it, they can hit it, and it rings an alarm," Velboom said.
The police department and City Hall are now steps away from each other, and all city services are in one place.
“It provides one stop shopping for customers, for developers, for contractors, they come in pay their water bill, do rentals," said Poe.
The total project cost $6.7 million. The buildings were paid for with reserve funds and Penny for Pasco tax dollars.
A grand opening is being held Friday at 10:30 a.m. There will be a ribbon cutting as well as tours for the public.
The program will also recognize a time capsule containing city and police department photographs, documents and memorabilia, which has been embedded in the lobby walls of the police department