Politicos tour Shenandoah police station, see ’emergency’ repairs, upgrades

SHENANDOAH – State legislators were in town Wednesday to see what the borough termed emergency repairs to the Shenandoah Police Station on West Washington Street.

State Reps. Tim Twardzik (R-123) and Dane Watro (R-116) along with State Senator Dave Argall (R-29) joined members of Shenandoah Borough Council, Borough Manager Mike Cadau, and Police Chief George Carado for a tour of the station.

Cadau said the sewer line for the station ruptured earlier this year and there had been issues with plumbing “for years.”

“[Police officers] had to go to the bathroom over at the ambulance garage,” Cadau said.

Cadau said, after the line broke, emergency repairs were sought.

Borough Council at Monday’s meeting approved a resolution noting that Cadau and Code Enforcement Officer Jim Flail determined emergency renovation work was necessary and immediate action was required to mitigate risk to the borough.

“The emergency renovation was completed in good faith and in accordance with the Borough’s duty to protect its residents, police officers, and infrastructure,” the resolution reads.

The work was done through the Pennsylvania COSTARS program beginning in January.

The repairs included top-to-bottom renovations of several areas towards the rear of the police station, which have been repurposed as a kitchen, a gym, and an office for the patrol officers.

Carado told the group that, before, the department had three desks for the patrol officers that were often shared.

Cadau emphasized the front portion of the station, which was untouched and in, what he described as, the same state as the rest of the station had been for years. He specifically pointed out the broken asbestos tile floor in that part of the station.

Other areas appeared to be incomplete and council is discussing options to complete the renovations now that Cadau says the emergency has been mitigated.

Some of the upgrades, Cadau told the group, are hoped to help attract officers to the borough, which is in need of at least two more full-time patrol officers.

Cadau told the Sentinel the renovations have cost at least $174,000, but the final number is still pending as invoices are being received.

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