The police department is almost twenty years old. When built, some spaces were left vacant for future growth. One of those spaces will accommodate two office cubicles. Scott County recently received a grant to allow for embedded social workers in the Shakopee and Savage police departments, including all their equipment. There is currently no more office space available to house this position, which will be a major enhancement to our service delivery.

Department staff has been working on this project for some time. The current office furniture is no longer being made. We were able to find some of the pieces, which will allow us to add two new workstations. Additionally, we will repurpose some of the panels currently up to replace panels that have been worn down by gun belts over the last two decades. The office furniture is the state bid price. To get anything that will match will require us to purchase the items now.

The department is requesting the use of Local Project Funds to fund this upgrade. During the pandemic, we did not close, and our staff did not work from home given the nature of our work. Having separated workspaces was essential to our operations. This project not only addresses future additional staff, but better prepares us for any future pandemic by adding separated workstations.

The department has not had to add one single workstation in almost two decades. With the addition of an embedded social worker in 2023, the lack of available matching furniture currently available, and the impact the pandemic had on workspaces, it has become necessary to add these two workstations.