NEW STATION STALLS AGAIN OVER BUDGET SHERIFF'S FACILITY PLANNED SINCE '99.Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer PALMDALE - Construction of a new Palmdale sheriff's station, in the works since 1999, has been delayed yet again after construction bids came in nearly $4 million higher than expected. Sheriff's and county officials are trying to determine what changes can be made in construction plans to lower the cost. ``The largest frustration for most of us is that we've been working on this for four years and we're just not there yet,'' said station Commander Terry Judge. ``I'm still optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op and continue to tell people that it's not a matter of if, it's just when.'' Contractors' bids submitted this summer came in with the lowest bid $3.9 million above the $15 million budget. Sheriff's officials have been meeting over the past few weeks to go over the plans and to determine what could be changed. Suggestions have included reducing the thickness of the walls from 6 inches to 4, reducing the landscaping budget and reducing office sizes. Perimeter walls perimeter wall n → mur m d'enceinte perimeter wall n → muro di cinta might be modified to include wrought-iron fencing fencing, sport of dueling with foil, épée, and saber. Modern Fencing The weapons and rules of modern fencing evolved from combat weapons and their usage. as well as concrete block. It is too early to tell what the changes will be, Judge said. Officials do not expect to remove station features such as jail cells, an evidence room and service bays for patrol cars, all now lacking in the present Palmdale station. Initial expectations were to start construction in August 2002, then in spring 2003. The latest estimate is that opening could be delayed as much as a year. Blueprints must go back to the architect for redesign re·de·sign tr.v. re·de·signed, re·de·sign·ing, re·de·signs To make a revision in the appearance or function of. re after the changes are agreed upon Adj. 1. agreed upon - constituted or contracted by stipulation or agreement; "stipulatory obligations" stipulatory noncontroversial, uncontroversial - not likely to arouse controversy , then the county must seek a new round of bids. The station is to be built on city property at Sierra Highway Sierra Highway is a road in Southern California, United States. It runs from Tunnel Station near the north limit of the City of Los Angeles, where it intersects with San Fernando Road and Foothill Boulevard, as well as Interstate 5, and continues north to Mojave, mostly paralleling and Avenue Q. It will replace leased quarters in a Palmdale Boulevard shopping center shopping center, a concentration of retail, service, and entertainment enterprises designed to serve the surrounding region. The modern shopping center differs from its antecedents—bazaars and marketplaces—in that the shops are usually amalgamated into . Deputies now must have their cars serviced at a local garage and book evidence and prisoners at the Lancaster sheriff's station, eight miles away. The first phase of construction got a green light in June 1999, when Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County supervisors granted local officials the authority to hire an architect. Until 1992, deputies patrolling Palmdale worked out of the Lancaster station. The Sheriff's Department opened a Palmdale substation that year in leased space in a downtown business center. In January 1998, the temporary Palmdale facility expanded to become independent of the Lancaster station. |
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