HANCOCK — Three Hancock departments laid out their budget requests at the city council’s first budget work session Wednesday night.

Hancock Fire Department Treasurer Brian Rimpela, Hancock Police Chief Tami Sleeman and Department of Public Works Director John Erickson gave presentations to the council.

Police Chief Tami Sleeman said the department will need a new headquarters. The current police headquarters at city hall has numerous shortcomings, she said.

“It’s not laid out correctly for the way we do business,” she said.

The waiting area for the public is too small, and the building lacks compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Further inside the station, there are several improvements needed, including an evidence room, a secure document room, and a “soft room” where they can interview victims of serious crime, Sleeman said.

There’s also no garage space for the cars, which would extend the life of the vehicles and allow police to respond faster to emergencies, she said.

A total cost hasn’t been estimated for the improvements. One option might be adding on to the fire hall.

“We need to be centrally located, and we do need easy access for people who come to the department,” Sleeman said. “As a city, I think it’s something we need to start looking into for our future. We all believe that the city’s going to draw more businesses, more people, which means the department will grow.”

Sleeman requested a full-time administrative staff member, which she estimated would cost $74,000 with wages and benefits. Because of the high call load and the number of officers, the department is sometimes unable to handle walk-in traffic or calls to the department during regular working hours.

Other items include body cameras to replace ones that are breaking down. The police department’s training budget would also double to $10,000 under Sleeman’s proposal.

The Department of Public Works’ projects include more than $1 million in work and equipment. The biggest line item, at $325,000, is an excavator. Buying one would ultimately be cheaper than renting, Erickson said.

“For Poplar Street, we’re going to have to rent one for $6,000 a month,” Erickson said.

The DPW is also looking to buy or lease a replacement for a 2008 end loader with more than 12,000 miles on it. That will cost an estimated $307,000.

A $250,000 project will include paving of major and local streets, including the Poplar Street project. Streets are prioritized based on their Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PASER) score.

Manholes and catch basins need to be adjusted at sites throughout the city, for a total cost of $25,000, Erickson said.

The fire department is seeking two new patrol cars for an estimated cost of about $73,000. At least one of them will have $25,000 in matching funds through a Rural Development grant.

Most of the fire department’s requests were for outfitting four new firefighters who joined the department at the start of the year.

“The fire department has become harder and harder to fill, but to get four at once really benefits the city,” Rimpela said.

The total request of just over $20,000 includes four sets of turnout gear and four sets of dress uniforms, for a combined cost of about $18,000. Other budget requests include routine vehicle maintenance.

Babcock said she will sort through the requests and prioritize them. Depending on funding, some may be earmarked for future years.

The council will hold additional budget work sessions on April 26, May 17, and if needed, May 31. A public hearing on the final budget is scheduled for June 7.