Public Safety Facilities

New Police and Fire Facilities for Owatonna

Public safety is a core responsibility of city government. The City of Owatonna’s police and fire facilities have served our community well but no longer meet modern public safety standards nor the needs of our first responders and the essential services they provide.

The City spent the last two years conducting a detailed facilities assessment of its public safety buildings, touring public safety facilities in other cities and evaluating options for reinvesting in essential police and fire services.

Based on this assessment, the City is planning to build new police and fire facilities to meet the needs of our community and first responders.

Outdated Buildings, Modern Demands

Owatonna is growing – and so are the demands on public safety. As our community evolves, we remain dedicated to keeping it safe.

A detailed facilities assessment of the City’s public safety buildings conducted in 2024 identified several challenges, including aging infrastructure, space limitations, and the need for upgrades to meet current safety standards.

Our aging public safety buildings have:

  • Water leaks and sewage line problems
  • Outdated roofing, windows and technology systems
  • Inadequate heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems
locker rooms
Water Heater
Holding Areas
Fire Hall Storage
Police waiting room
Fire Hall Living Quarters
Police workstation
Sally Port
Fire Hall Apparatus Bay
Fire Hall Basement

Currently, our police and fire buildings lack:

  • Modern safety systems to protect our first responders
  • Functional space for effective police and fire department operations
  • Adequate space for training and employee wellness
  • Onsite parking for police vehicles, fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles and equipment
  • Space for future growth and enhanced emergency response capabilities
  1. The Challenges Facing Our Police Station
  2. The Challenges Facing Our Fire Station

LEC ExteriorOwatonna’s Police Department operates out of a 60-year-old building that was originally designed as a bank. While the building was remodeled in 1997 to become a law enforcement facility, it no longer meets the needs of modern policing. It lacks secure areas, appropriate evidence processing space, adequate parking, training rooms and wellness space, limiting the department’s ability to operate safely and effectively.

Our Commitment to Our Community and Our First Responders

The City is committed to providing excellent public safety services and meeting the needs of our community and first responders.

Modern, functional facilities are essential to:

  • Protect public safety
  • Maintain efficient building systems to reduce operational costs
  • Be good stewards of taxpayer dollars by addressing facility needs efficiently and proactively
  • Provide sufficient and functional space for operations and training
  • Support the safety, health and well-being of first responders
  • Increase collaboration for effective emergency response
  • Foster stronger relationships with regional public safety partners and the public
  • Create needed space for outreach programs to support community vitality
  • Meet the current needs of our police and fire departments and prepare for future growth

Project Status

The City is taking a careful, phased approach to planning for new police and fire facilities that is guided by fiscal responsibility and long-term community needs. After evaluating both current and future requirements, the City Council approved funding for the next phase of planning in December 2024.

Phase two launched in January 2025 and included site investigations, project scoping and facility design. A facilities task force evaluated six potential sites and 34 layout options, prioritizing locations that support fast emergency response while efficiently using taxpayer dollars.

Ultimately, the City selected two City-owned sites:

  • A new fire station at the current Law Enforcement Center property
  • A new police department at the West Hills Campus.

These sites offer the best combination of strategic location, operational efficiency and cost-effective use of existing City property.

Design work for these facilities is underway, with bidding expected to begin in the spring of 2026. The City is actively reviewing funding options for the estimated project cost of $61 million.