The final decision for a new police headquarters rests significantly on Thunder Bay city council, according to the mayor.
Even though the current Balmoral Street police station may be where it ends up, Bill Mauro recalls council discussions over the last few years suggesting a new site in a downtown core, to help with revitalization.
“The consultant and the police service, the chief, and others, came back to us with reasons with why they didn’t think that was appropriate. I don’t need to go down that rabbit hole and get into that detail right now,” noted the mayor.
He adds there is still a chance to change future site selection.
The mayor also points out while the police services board and consultants feel a new building is needed at Balmoral, they turned away from the idea of adding to the existing building. “I do believe there was significant expense, and it was believed that would not achieve a number of the pieces that they wanted to have happen in a new building.”
The mayor was responding to a question during a recent virtual townhall meeting to belief by some simply building more to the current Balmoral Street police station is good enough, and that the consultant’s report was too narrow.
