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June 18, 2008 – Senator-at-Large Carmen Wesselhoft expressed her thanks to her colleagues and the residents of St. Croix's Northshore for wholeheartedly supporting her legislation to convert an abandoned schoolhouse into a police substation and emergency services center.
Bill No. 27-0179 appropriates $100,000 for the project, which would rehabilitate the former Alexander I. Wilson School on the Northshore Road. Finance Committee members voted unanimously in favor of Wesselhoft's plan for the substation.
"The main concern at this point is to determine whether this is enough money to do the job properly," Wesselhoft said. "Engineers from the Department of Public Works will be on site beginning Thursday to give us a more detailed assessment of what needs to take place to get this building in order."
Initial reports indicate that the building is structurally sound, but further study – to include air quality testing – is required. Property & Procurement Commissioner Lynn Millin said Tuesday that her agency supports the project and had agreed with DPW to expedite engineering surveys at the site. Millin said additional information about structure should be available within 30 days.
Wesselhoft said she was hopeful that the engineering reports would be made available before the bill was sent on to the Rules Committee.
"If the legislation needs to be amended we can do it at that time," she said. "My main concern is to get the ball rolling and bring the protection and services needed to the residents of La Valle, Mon Bijou, Salt River and the surrounding areas. It takes far too long for police, ambulance and fire to respond to any emergency and, in the case of the police, the criminals are taking advantage of this fact."
Wesselhoft said she was deeply concerned about the growing sense of fear experienced by home and business owners in the area.
"Everyone has the right to feel secure within their homes and work places," she said. "I will be meeting with residents in the coming days to see what can be done until we get the new substation in place. It is clear that a greater police presence is required at this time and I share in their frustrations with the process, however we can mark today as a victory. I ask that all those concerned stay involved and keep up the pressure until this measure becomes law. Thank you all for your support."
