FARMINGTON -- Voters on Tuesday will be asked to consider approving the construction of a 9,000-square-foot new Farmington Police Station.

Voting will be held in the Farmington Community Center on Middle Street from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The proposed single-story building would be constructed on town land at the corner of High Street and Farmington Falls Road. Currently, the department occupies about 1,500 square feet in the municipal building that officials say is undersized for the current staff of 14.

The building would have room for offices, evidence processing, storage, interviews, and would have a conference room that can be used for training. There would also be a workout room where officers can exercise and work off stress after their shifts, without having to pay $200 a year per person for a gym membership, according to the police chief, Richard Caton III.

The plans and the location for the proposed new building were developed by a committee of citizens and town officials, and are recommended by the board of selectmen and budget committee. The design by Bunker & Savage Architects includes room for a 2,400-square-foot expansion in the future and can accommodate a second floor.

The project would be financed with a bond. Currently, the town has $6.1 million in debt, with half of that being sewer debt that is paid for by sewer users, according to Town Manager Richard Davis. That leaves plenty of capacity since the state limits municipal debt at 15 percent of the last full state valuation, which in Farmington would be $64.5 million, he said.

Betty Jespersen -- 778-6991

bjespersen@centralmaine.com