This is an artist's drawing of what the proposed Sand Springs combined public safety facility would look like. Courtesy
SAND SPRINGS — Local voters will be asked to approve a $14.5 million bond issue this fall to allow for the construction of a new public safety facility and other projects.
The Sand Springs City Council voted unanimously Monday evening to add the bond issue to the Nov. 12 general election ballot.
The three propositions that will be on the ballot seek to address public safety needs, allow for renovations at the Municipal Building, and improve the city’s parks and recreation facilities.
Approval of all propositions in the 20-year bond would increase Sand Springs residents’ property taxes by an estimated $129 a year. Approval of only the public safety facility would increase taxes by about $101 a year.
The public safety needs outlined in Proposition 1 make up the bulk of the bond issue — $11.4 million — and include the construction of a 45,000-square-foot facility that would house police and fire headquarters. The building also would house the downtown Fire Station 1 and would include training facilities, a new jail, an emergency operation center and a 911 center.
The facility would be built on a 12.75-acre site on Wekiwa Road west of 129th West Avenue.
“This bond is going to allow us to take care of some needed space issues (and) training issues,” said City Manager Rocky Rogers.
Currently tThe city’s Police Department is housed in a 4,500-square-foot facility that’s nearly 100 years old and is much smaller than the facilities in neighboring cities. Glenpool’s public safety building, for example, is 28,000 square feet, and Sapulpa’s Police Department has 19,000 square feet.
The Sand Springs fire stations are also inadequate and require extensive repairs, officials say. About $400,000 of the Proposition 1 funds would be dedicated to remodeling Station 2.
The city held five public meetings over the course of the summer to discuss bond projects with residents.
A few changes were made to Propositions 2 and 3 at a previous meeting, shifting funds from the City Hall remodeling plans to increase the allocations for parks and recreation facilities. These changes would allow for the building of another splash park on the south side of Sand Springs.
Proposition 2 includes the demolition of the current Fire Station 1 and some remodeling of the Municipal Building.
Proposition 3 would devote about $2.4 million to multiple park and recreation projects, including building two splash pads, improving playgrounds and updating sports facilities at River City Park.
The proposition also allocates funds for repairs at the 1929 art deco Sand Springs Museum and for the completion of the parking lot at the Keystone Ancient Forest.
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The bus had two occupants, a driver and an 8-year-old girl. The driver had a suspended license, police said.
