Lancaster Public Safety Building and Senior Center have groundbreaking ceremonies

Lancaster groundbreaking ceremonies for the Public Safety Building and Senior Center will be at Veterans Memorial Parkway (north of the Parks Recreation Building) by the children’s playground. The time will be April 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Food and drinks will be served.

City officials will be on hand to break ground on the newest editions to Lancaster. The Public Safety Building will contain Fire Station #1, the Fire Department, and the Police Department. The Public Safety Building is intended to be of sufficient size to accommodate the needs of the City of Lancaster at full build out of the city. The Senior Center will be about 11,500 square feet with a full dining room and a kitchen, general purpose rooms, and a crafts room.

The construction of the buildings was authorized in a Bond Referendum election in November, 2005. The construction is about a year behind schedule. The original intend was to have the buildings complete by April, 2007.

The seniors have been meeting at the Community House built in 1938 with about 1,000 square feet. The new Senior Center will allow many more activities. Lunch is served Monday thru Friday at 12 noon. The purpose of the Senior Center is to enhance the quality of life and extend the independent living of our aging citizens. Funding for the Senior Center operations is provided by a partnership with the City of Lancaster, Dallas County, the State of Texas, and some Federal programs.

It has been learned that the City of Lancaster has given the Senior Center the $5,000 for operating expenses this past month. The money was budgeted for October 1, 2006. No reason was given for the delay.

The existing Public Safety Building has become inadequate for the needs of the City. The building has serious structural problems associated with a poorly designed roof that allows the roof to leak. The building does not meet the needs of the Fire Department equipment and coed personnel.