Peru City Council has selected Chicago-based Leopardo Construction to build its new police station.
The cost of the project hasn’t been disclosed — though the News-Tribune reports a preliminary budget may be in hand by Thanksgiving.
Leopardo has built several police stations in northern Illinois.
Council voted 8-0 to accept a recommendation from a review committee naming the contractor. In a related motion, the council retained Klein, Thorpe, and Jenkins to negotiate a contract with Leopardo Construction for its services.
“What I have to say is, ‘Go to work,’” Mayor Scott Harl said.
And while Harl had last month laid out a rough timetable for the project cost, loosely targeting six months to get a firm figure, Leopardo thinks the phase II planning and budget could be ready for council approval by November.
Leopardo has built several police departments in northern Illinois including Hanover Park, New Lenox and Glen Ellyn. Peru police chief Doug Bernabei visited these and termed them “very impressive.”
The contractor has signaled that it is eager to work with local subcontractors.
Earlier, city officials said the goals of this still-fluid project include a training room available to the community, more space for evidence storage, and segregated parking lots for the public and for emergency vehicles.
Peru wants to build a new police station on 6.5 acres located west of Hy-Vee at Midtown Road and North Peoria Street.
