A Long-Term Plan to Strengthen Public Safety in Owatonna
The City is committed to providing excellent public safety services and meeting the needs of our community and first responders.
In planning for future police and fire facilities, the City's goals have been to:
Protect and improve public safety
Continue to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars by addressing facility needs efficiently and proactively
Support the safety, health and well-being of first responders
Continue to support strong relationships with regional partners and the public
Ensure flexibility to meet public safety needs today and well into the future
What's Being Proposed
A Public Safety Taskforce reviewed building conditions, toured peer community’s public safety facilities, compared site options and evaluated whether combined or separate facilities would be the best use of taxpayer dollars.
Based on this work, the City Council put forward a plan to build:
A new Police Department on the West Hills Campus
A new Fire Station at the current Law Enforcement Center site
Because the City already owns both properties, the projects can move forward without the added costs and extra time required for purchasing new land and displacing local homes and businesses.
A New Police Department at West Hills Campus
The West Hills Campus was identified as the best long-term location for a new police department as it provides the space and flexibility needed for a modern public safety facility while supporting efficient access across the community.
The City purchased the West Hills Campus in 1974 with the long-term vision of creating a centralized hub for City services. In the decades since, the City has carefully renovated and added community amenities such as tennis and arts centers and a senior center built in 1990. Today, the site continues to serve that purpose and already includes several public and community-focused facilities. Building a new police department at West Hills supports that future vision while helping the City meet modern public safety needs today.
Key reasons the site was selected include:
A Place of History and Service
The West Hills Campus has long been part of Owatonna’s story. For decades, the site served vulnerable children from across Minnesota as the home of the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent and Neglected Children. Today, West Hills continues to serve the community as an important center for City services and community activity.
Because the campus is located within a historic district, the City recognizes the importance of approaching future development thoughtfully and carefully. Minnesota law requires consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) for projects in historic districts, and the City began that coordination process in January 2026. SHPO provides guidance on historic considerations and helps identify potential impacts early in the planning process.
Planning efforts are focused on balancing preservation of the site’s historic character with the need to provide safe, modern public safety facilities for the community. The City remains committed to protecting the significance of West Hills while ensuring Owatonna’s police department can effectively serve residents for decades to come.
Preliminary Facility Design
The renderings below represents an early conceptual design intended to show the general scale, layout and character of the proposed facility. Final building design, materials and site details would continue to evolve through future planning, engineering and public review processes.
A New Fire Station at the Current Law Enforcement Center Site
The current Law Enforcement Center site was identified as the best location for a new fire station because it provides a centralized location for fast emergency response. For fire services, even a few minutes can make a major difference during an emergency, which is why a centrally located station is critical to reach people quickly across Owatonna.
Preliminary Facility Design
The rendering below represents an early concept of the new station’s design to show the general scale, layout and character of the proposed facility. Final building design and site details will continue to evolve through future planning, engineering and public review processes.
Why Two Separate Facilities?
After more than two years of study and evaluation, the plan to build two separate police and fire stations was determined to be the most responsible and cost-effective option because it:
Protects fast emergency response times: The new police and fire station sites are strategically located to support the fastest response times and most reliable public safety services across Owatonna.
Uses City-owned land: The City already owns both properties, so there is no need to buy additional land. This lowers overall costs of the projects and avoids the need to acquire private property.
Meets long-term community needs: The new police and fire stations will be designed to serve first responders and the Owatonna community for the next 50 years. Modern facilities will strengthen public safety, support future growth and end the cycle of repairs and costly short-term fixes needed to keep aging buildings running.
Why does location matter for public safety?
For emergency services, even a few minutes can make a major difference. Centrally located facilities help first responders reach emergencies quickly and reliably across the community, which is critical during fires, medical emergencies and rescue situations.
Station location also plays an important role in Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings, which can affect property insurance costs for residents and businesses. Because some firefighters respond from locations across the City before reporting to the station, maintaining a central and strategic fire station location is especially important to support fast response times.
What Other Sites Did the City Explore?
During the planning process, the Public Safety Task Force spent more than six months evaluating sites across Owatonna to identify the best long-term locations for new police and fire facilities. The review process focused on several key priorities, including:
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Fire response is time-critical. Even a few minutes can make the difference between containing a fire to one room or losing an entire structure.
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Sites were evaluated based on their ability to support fast, reliable response throughout Owatonna.
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Using existing City property helped avoid displacing homes or businesses while reducing overall project costs.
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The City evaluated long-term costs, operational efficiency and overall value to the community.
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Sites were reviewed for their ability to support future operational needs and long-term growth.
The City evaluated a wide range of potential locations across Owatonna. While each site offered certain advantages, the locations below were ultimately determined to be less effective in meeting the City’s priorities for emergency response, operational needs, long-term flexibility and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Click here to review these sites and their evaluation in more detail, or watch this recording of a May 5, 2026 City Council Study session.
Why Address These Needs Now?
City leaders have spent several years studying Owatonna's public safety needs. The message is clear: the longer we wait, the more these projects will cost — and the harder it will be for police and firefighters to do their jobs safely and effectively.
The current police and fire stations keep aging, increasing maintenance needs and leading to more frequent, costly repairs
Neither station was built for how police and fire teams work today, impacting the health and safety of first responders and the essential services they provide
Construction costs increase over time, so delaying these projects will make them more expensive