Roswell council approves $3.9 million contract to build new E‑911 call center at former Sharpshooters site

The Roswell mayor and council committee unanimously approved a contract award to Reeves Young for construction of the city’s new E‑911 call center at 11261 Alpharetta Highway, the site formerly occupied by a retail business and shooting range. The contract amount is not to exceed $3,900,000; staff requested a total project budget authorization of $4,690,000.

Bridal Watson, director of Environmental Public Works, told the committee the building is approximately 18,300 square feet and that the city intends to keep the gun range operational during construction and afterward. He said the city will build a dividing wall so the 9‑1‑1 portion of the building can be upgraded to Category‑4 standards — a resilience requirement that ensures operations during major natural disasters — while the range remains separated from the call center.

Why it matters: City staff and elected officials described the project as a key piece of the public-safety program funded by the 2022 voter-approved bonds. Watson and other staff said acquiring and adapting existing properties — the Summit office building and the Sharpshooters site — reduced overall costs compared with building new facilities and accelerated deployment of police, fire and emergency communications assets.

Budget and schedule: Watson said the $3.9 million construction figure includes contractor general requirements, fees, bonds and construction costs. Staff recommended an additional $390,000 for unforeseen circumstances and about $400,000 for construction administration, materials testing and perimeter fencing. Watson told the committee the city expects the new call center to be occupied by March 31, 2026.

Council action: Council member Julie Hills moved to award the Reeves Young contract and allocate the recommended budget authorization; Council member Northland seconded. The committee voted unanimously to approve the award.

Design and logistics: Watson said the city previously evaluated the option of building a single, consolidated public-safety complex and determined that adapting existing properties and separating the 9‑1‑1 center would be more cost‑effective. He described category-4 standards as building requirements that allow continuity of operations during extreme events specific to a region. Staff also credited contributions from multiple city departments — IT, transportation, CIP — and named staff who led the project’s rapid delivery.

What remains: Staff said work will proceed under the city’s construction manager at-risk arrangement with Reeves Young; fencing and some site work were still being finalized at the time of the meeting. The committee approved the contract; the item moves to finalize procurement documents and begin construction planning.

Speakers on the E‑911 item included Bridal Watson, Chief Conroy (Roswell Police Department), Mayor Curt Wilson and several council members who spoke in support of the project.