At hearing, supporters of project say time is right for new Tilton Police Station

TILTON — For the most part supporters and opponents of the proposal to borrow $2.7-million to convert half of the building at 61 Business Park to a Police Station skipped the public hearing this week, choosing the hold their fire for Town Meeting next month.

Pat Consentino, the chairman of the selectboard who also served on the Life Safety Building Committee that framed the proposal, explained that the $2.7-million includes the cost of construction the police station as well as extending public water service from the intersection of Route 3 and Route 132 to 61 Business Park Drive.

Consentino said that the project was estimated to add 44 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to the 2011 tax rate, with the building representing 40 cents and the water line four cents. She noted that the cost of the water line, estimated at $650,000, would be shared equally between the town and the owner of the business park. In addition, the debt service incurred to purchase 61 Business Park Drive in 2011 amounts to $168,375 or 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. Consequently the entire project — the cost of acquiring the building, undertaking the construction and extending the water — would add 77 cents per $1,000 of assessed value to the 2011 tax rate.

Finance Director Tim Pearson pointed out that if the extension of water service led to the development of just one of the adjacent lots in the Nickerson Business Park, enough property value would be added to the tax rolls to offset the cost of extending the water line.

Joe Jesseman, one of two speakers, reminded the board that "we've studied every option in the world to get us back to 61 Business Park Drive." In fact, Pearson quickly calculated that since the town began planning for a new police station it had spent more than $144,000, or 29 cents per $1,000 of assess value, on committees.

Describing the conditions at the police station as "medieval," Jesseman said "we can't afford not to build it, because it's not going to get any cheaper. I'm all in favor."

Tim Sattler, who serves on the Life Safety Building Committee, agreed. "The time is right," he said, adding that the opportunity to extend the water line "makes it even more of a no-brainer."

If the warrant article for the police station and the water line fails, voters will be asked to consider a separate article to appropriate $650,000 to extend the water line, which would add to value and enhance the marketability of the lots in the business park. As Consentino noted, ultimately the cost of the water project will be divided with the owner of the park, reducing the town's share to $325,000.