Volunteers Needed for St. Helens Public Safety Facility Ad-Hoc Committee

Front of police station with police department sign.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2020

Make a Difference for Public Safety in the Community of St. Helens

ST. HELENS, OR – The City of St. Helens is currently taking applications from interested persons in the community who would like to volunteer to serve on the new St. Helens Public Safety Facility Ad-Hoc Committee.

The Committee will meet monthly or as needed. The work of the Committee will focus on our growing community’s need for a modern public safety facility. A key responsibility will be to solicit and share feedback about current public safety services with the City Council and the broader community. The work of the Committee will be closely tied to the City’s Strategic Workplan, specifically Goal 3: a Livable and Safe Community.

Our current police station was built in 1971, close to 50 years ago, and is 2,200 square feet. The current facility does not have space for training, briefing or confidential interviews. The locker room and evidence storage spaces cannot accommodate current best practices in policing. There is now an opportunity to realize community aspirations of improved safety and livability by bringing our station up to current standards, co-locating police and court functions, and incorporating community space in a new public service center.

It is the desire of the City to recruit individuals who can commit the time and energy to assist in championing our public safety system and community livability, think critically about financing options for a public facility, represent the City, Police Department and Municipal Court in a positive and professional manner, and work as a team to accomplish complex tasks.

The Committee was created and members are appointed by the City Council. The Committee is tasked with advising the City Council in direction and finance pertaining to a new public service center to house our Police Department and Municipal Court.

Anyone interested in volunteering their time to serve on this ad-hoc committee should download an application by going to www.sthelensoregon.gov/forms and return the completed form to City Hall, Attn: Kathy Payne, 265 Strand Street, St. Helens, OR 97051. If you have any questions or would like an application mailed/emailed to you, please contact Kathy Payne, City Recorder, kathy@ci.st-helens.or.us or call 503-366-8217.

The deadline to submit an application is Friday, September 11, 2020 at 5:00 p.m.

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