The Challenges
Challenges Facing the Hibbing Public Safety Departments
The City of Hibbing’s public safety departments work together but do not have a centralized, functional, up-to-date location to meet today’s operational standards, improve emergency response and enhance community safety.
Inefficiencies and Increased Costs: Hibbing’s public safety departments operate from separate locations. Maintaining multiple facilities and continually repairing an outdated, deteriorating building is costly for the city and prevents the departments from operating efficiently.
A Need to Collaborate and Share Resources: Police officers and firefighters often need to collaborate, but there is no centralized facility large enough to support all public safety staff and foster inter-agency collaboration.
Lack of Dedicated Space: Hibbing’s public safety facilities need more space for public safety staff, operations, equipment and training.
The proposed Your Safety, Our Priority plan aims to address these issues by constructing a new regional public safety center, bringing all first responder teams – police, fire and EMS - under one roof for improved response, efficient operations and reduced long-term costs.
Fire and EMS Challenges
The Hibbing Fire Department primarily operates out of the headquarters building (2320 Brooklyn Drive) that was built in 1964. Despite efforts to maintain this building, it is rapidly deteriorating and needs repairs, renovations and upgrades that exceed the city’s available financial resources.
The department also utilizes two additional spaces in the city to store equipment, conduct paid on-call firefighter operations and train staff.
Challenges facing the Fire Department include:
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Moisture damage on interior and exterior block walls, which have been repainted numerous times due to chipping and peeling paint and finishes.
Water backs up at the basement drain, causing a significant odor and safety concern as the drain is located next to electrical panels.
Water leaks into the building through the block walls and flows over the garage to the floor drain during heavy rain.
Water pools on the roof near the solar panels, and stained ceiling tiles indicate multiple roof leaks.
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No private quarters for fire command staff, who currently sleep in the Watch Room or in an office that is also used to meet with personnel.
Lack of office space for training officers and a clerk, who share a workspace with new gear storage.
Locker room for female firefighters is small, cramped and unable to accommodate the growing number of women serving on the force.
Fitness equipment is located in an area that exposes firefighters to carcinogens and vehicle exhaust while exercising.
Lack of training space.
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Insufficient space to house all fire trucks, ambulances and other vehicles, requiring the use of two off-site locations for parking and storage.
Inadequately sized fire rig bay cannot fit a standard ladder truck, requiring the city to spend an extra $300,000 to $400,000 to special order a smaller version.
Congested indoor parking for firetrucks and emergency response vehicles forces the ambulance to be moved outside for cleaning and restocking after responding to calls, even in extreme seasonal temperatures.
Self-contained breathing apparatus and compressor are located in the garage, causing tight workspaces for operations, maintenance, and cleaning.
Lack of space for equipment and turnout gear (flame retardant clothes, helmet, boots, etc.) is stored in the apparatus bay to be stored properly.
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Trench drains run perpendicular to fire trucks, creating a safety hazard by allowing draining water to flow in walk lanes.
Outdated and inadequate ventilation system exposes firefighters and EMS personnel to unnecessary carcinogens, vehicle exhaust and cleaning chemicals.
Noncompliant ADA access to the office area.
Thoughts From Our Fire and EMS Staff
“Insufficient space for a fully staffed department. Failing plumbing and sewer. Insufficient space for EMS equipment and vehicles. Insufficient space for fire apparatus, tools, hose, gear, and equipment.”
“Not ample space. Out of date. Lacking technology. No space. Poor air quality.”
“Some of the areas like a training room don’t even exist.”
“The public reception area is not at all user friendly. Customers must wait outside in the elements after ringing the doorbell. Once inside the station, the layout is confusing.”
“There is only one shower in the locker room and space is very limited. Our kitchen does not meet safety compliance. Training room is nonexistent. Reception area is just an empty hallway.”
Police Department Challenges
The Police Department is currently leasing space from St. Louis County for about $70,000 per year and has outgrown its space. The leased facility lacks adequate space and storage for police officers, equipment, vehicles, onsite training, large meetings and collaboration with other public safety staff.
Challenges facing the Police Department include:
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Limited interview areas and no way to separate potential interview subjects.
Lack of space to hold and process suspects, who are seated on a bench in view of the open office space and area when the public comes to make a report.
No area to process vehicles involved in a crime.
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Insufficient space for evidence processing and storage, including the ability for long-term frozen storage.
Insufficient ventilation and privacy for evidence processing.
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Lack of space for four-wheeler and snowmobile trailers requires storing those vehicles at an off-site location.
Insufficient storage for ammunition and weapons.
Inadequate space for equipment and gear storage and for a weapons cleaning area,
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Absence of secure indoor parking requires squad cars to idle 24/7 to protect the specialized technology that aids police officers in their work from harsh weather elements year-round.
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Office space for command staff, investigators and parking officers is inadequate.
Workstations for police officers are separated by partitions and lack privacy.
No decontamination space, requiring police officers to use the fire department building, tools and systems to clean and maintain gear.
Lack of private changing space for male and female officers.
Lack of a dedicated office for the K-9 and K-9 officer, and no space for a dog wash and dog relief area.
No break room or dedicated training area.
Lack of a lobby or clearly defined entrance hinders public access.
Thoughts From Our Police Department Staff
“All of the police department’s areas are undersized. There’s inadequate room for daily work activities.”
“There is not a kitchen/dining area unless you count a microwave and countertop. The locker room would be fine except the weight equipment takes up too much room. We do not have a break room. There is no community room. Our training area in the basement always seems to be cluttered.”
“There is minimal space for evidence, whether that be long term storage, lockers, or the evidence processing table ... There is nothing that gets a thumbs up for space.”
“We have NO break room, no designated training rooms, interview rooms are outdated, everything needs improvement.”