WINSLOW — Construction of a new police station could resume as early as next week and cost $87,000 more than its original $626,000 price tag, according to the town manager.

The work, now estimated at $714,000, is expected to be completed by Jan. 14.

Before work resumes, however, the stalled project will be the topic of a public hearing and special town council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the town office.

Earlier this week, the State Fire Marshal’s Office issued the town a building permit for the project, which is on the western end of the town office on Benton Avenue. The original project called for an addition to the existing police station — which is in the basement of the town office — and a complete renovation of its old offices.

Construction of the addition’s foundation began in mid-July, but a few weeks later the state issued stop-work orders because the construction manager, Peachey Builders, hadn’t applied for a building permit from the fire marshal. The site has been idle ever since.

After reviewing the permit application, the fire marshal required the town to include code upgrades to the planned expansion and the rest of the town office, including a fire suppression system, handicapped-accessible bathrooms and more. The total cost of the code upgrades is estimated at $147,000, but Peachey Builders will absorb $60,000, said Town Manager Michael Heavener. Also, some of the costs can be spread across several years.

Peachey Builders estimated the cost of the project at $626,408 — a figure that the Augusta-based company called the guaranteed maximum price. 

Elsewhere in the town office, the town will be responsible for about $87,000 of upgrades, which can be spread across three years; however, most upgrades will be done immediately while construction is under way, Heavener said.

The town will not have to install an elevator, as some observers had speculated, Heavener said.

When an older building undergoes renovation, the project also must include updates to comply with new building codes. Because the police station is attached to the town offices, the whole building needs to be updated; however, the town is not required to make the building completely compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, because the law states that updates can be capped at 20 percent of the project’s base cost.

Ben McCanna — 861-9239

bmccanna@centralmaine.com

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