Bradley County EMA outlines plan to move 9‑1‑1 to Overlook Drive building; $700,000 renovation grant said to be likely

Troy, director of Bradley County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), told the commission the county plans to relocate EMA and expand emergency operations into a county‑owned building on Overlook Drive, using a mix of tornado recovery funds, grant awards and appropriations rather than building a new Class‑4 structure.

Troy said the county already owns the Overlook Drive building, which is currently leased to the state. He told commissioners the county has $100,000 from 2020 tornado funds available for exterior repairs and has applied for a $700,000 noncompetitive grant that staff believe is “almost assured.” A separate $1.2 million appropriations request for technology and security was moved into the 2026 budget by the state; those funds would pay for the emergency operations center (EOC) bunker and communications upgrades, Troy said.

Why it matters: Troy said renovating and occupying the existing building avoids the much larger cost of building a new Class‑4 facility (estimates to build new were described as rising from roughly $2.4 million to $5–7 million when a Class‑4 standard was applied). The new site would provide warehouse space for disaster receipts and a more secure EOC, which Troy said would reduce the county’s need to rent temporary offices and warehouses during incidents.

Key details and timeline

- Lease and move timing: Troy said the state’s lease on the Overlook Drive building expires Sept. 30 (the meeting occurred in late April) and the county’s goal is to move operations in roughly October, with some systems phased in afterward. Troy cautioned the war‑room or hardened EOC depends on the timing of the second grant and technology contracts; that phase may remain in the existing 9‑1‑1 center until funding arrives.

- Funding sources: Troy described three primary sources: $100,000 in tornado recovery funds for exterior work, a noncompetitive $700,000 grant (under review but believed likely), and a $1.2 million appropriation for technology/security that has been moved to the 2026 budget cycle.

- Operational benefits: Troy and commissioners noted the building would provide on‑hand warehouse space to receive donated supplies during disasters and on‑site office space for federal or state personnel who assist with recovery paperwork — a cost‑avoidance benefit compared with renting off‑site facilities.

- Cost-sharing and revenue: Troy said EMA’s operating budget is funded roughly 80% by the county and 20% by the city; EMA also receives recurring grant revenue (e.g., EPPG) and tower lease revenue. Commissioners discussed whether the town/city contribution remains equitable given countywide service coverage.

- Grant administration and staffing: Commissioners and Troy discussed adding a grant writer to the county to manage the increased grant load across departments; several commissioners said a shared grant writer could pay for itself if used countywide.

Commissioner comments and next steps

Commissioners asked about renovation scheduling, parking, use of nearby businesses for overflow parking or training, and whether the county could rely on neighboring private property for staging large operations. Troy said the county has discussed cooperation with neighboring businesses and is completing grant paperwork; he said the county will likely bring a resolution in May to stop renewing the current lease and proceed with the move once contracts are signed.

Ending

Troy said the county is confident in the noncompetitive grant and that the move should not require local capital beyond operating costs; commissioners asked staff to return with contract and schedule details as grant documents are finalized.