The Medford City Council unanimously agrees to a utility hike.
And some city officials say this comes at just the right time.
It will cost Medford residents an additional 2 dollars on their utility bill per mont and city council members say that the small increase is all in the name of public safety.
Since 1967, the first floor of the Medford City Hall has been occupied by the police department, a space that wasn’t built with security in mind.
In a tour Friday of the current facility Medford Police Chief Tim George points out offices that are filled beyond capacity.
Anearby hallway also doubles as a storage room and there is no place to interview suspects and witnesses.
“From interview rooms, locker rooms, parking facilities, we don’t have any of that, we need a police facility.”
Just over 21 million dollars will go towards building a new police station on 10th and Ivy and Chief George is convinced the building will make the entire community safer.
“We’ve been in a situation for 46 years that we were never supposed to be in in the first place, this was supposed to be temporary.”
The new building will be able to provide secure areas for suspects, citizens and police.
The rate increase will go into effect on January 1, 2014.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.