POQUOSON — On Saturday, March 29, the City of Poquoson held a ribbon-cutting celebration for its new Public Safety building.
The new building is approximately 20,000 square feet and will house the Poquoson Police Department and Poquoson Fire and Rescue Department administrative offices, as well as the city’s Emergency Operations Center.
It will more than double the size of the city’s police department and include a 48-person training room for public safety staff.
The new Emergency Operations Center portion of the facility will provide a dedicated space for city staff to gather and work cohesively during emergency operations, such as a hurricane event.
Addressing the audience, Mayor David Hux explained how in 2022, the city found out that it would be on the receiving end of about $12 million of ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) Funding. After some research, staff determined that a public safety building fell within the guidelines for the usage of that money.
Having to act quickly, Hux said that two factors came into play; the city already completed a feasibility study three years prior and the economic development authority owned the property.
“We were able to act quickly and as a result — and this is what I want you to take away — the citizens of Poquoson will benefit from a $12 million facility, which is a generational accomplishment for us — and it only cost the citizens of our city $3 million. The other $9 million was paid for with COVID money (ARPA funds). We are grateful for that and we know the Lord works in mysterious ways,” stated Hux.
Poquoson City Manager Randy Wheeler, Poquoson Fire Chief Michael Bryant and Police Chief Stephen Keatts spoke at the dedication as well, thanking citizens and expressing gratitude for the new facility.
Public safety offices will officially move into the new building from their current spaces
the week after the grand opening.
