Cleveland County is moving forward with plans for a new 9-1-1 Center and Emergency Operations Center (EOC), following a detailed presentation at the recent County Commissioner’s meeting. The project, which has been in the works for about 30 days, is set to be located at 1333 Foster Road, the current site of the Red Cross building.

The total budget for the 9-1-1 Center is approximately $7.287 million, with $4.07 million allocated specifically for construction. The facility will span 5,383 square feet, while the EOC will cover 2,475 square feet. Construction is expected to take around 15 months once ground is broken.

The lowest bid for the project came in at $5.227 million, with several alternates proposed. Notably, the EOC building's alternate bid was $2.396 million, but officials are exploring value engineering options to reduce costs. Additionally, an alternate for paving the parking lot instead of using gravel was deemed beneficial and is likely to be accepted. The third alternate, which involves Honeywell HVAC controls, comes at no additional cost.

The staff recommended accepting the base bid for the 9-1-1 Center along with the two alternates, bringing the total award to approximately $5.244 million to JM Koch Construction. This decision will also allow time to seek additional grant funding for the 9-1-1 Center, enhancing the project’s financial viability.

As Cleveland County prepares for this significant infrastructure upgrade, the focus remains on ensuring efficient emergency response capabilities for the community.