(Photos-by Joe Kaus)
By Mike Pettinella
For Video News Service
CORFU – “It’s been a long time coming.”
Take it from Deputy Mayor Michael Doktor: the Village Board is ecstatic about its vote to convert the former Stan’s Red Lounge at 83 East Main St. into the community’s first honest-to-goodness police station.
On Wednesday of this week, the board authorized the transformation of the tavern and garage on the property for use by the 11-employee village police department.
The action will move the officers from its current location at the Pembroke Community Center at 116 East Main St. and relocate storage of the force’s three patrol cars from a sewer plant on the west end of the village.
Doktor said village police have had to operate out of what he called “a closet” – about 100 square feet of space at the community center – for the past 25 years.
“The village purchased this large property – we closed on it early this year – and have discussed many options for it, with community input,” Doktor said. “Our mayor (Tom Sargent) and commanding officer (David Krzemien) thought this would be a good place (for the police station).”
Doktor said it will cost around $8,000 to prepare the former bar for police use, adding that officers, village maintenance crew and volunteers will be teaming together to install siding, window and door upgrades and a new floor.
“We (the board) initially budgeted that money to repair the garage in back, so there will be no additional cost to taxpayers,” he said.
Village officials are looking to have police officers in the building by December, Doktor said.
“We have no plans yet for the house on the property,” he noted. “We’re seeking ideas, but we’re in no hurry as far as that is concerned.”
