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Commissioners transfer $102,138 to fund emergency communications center wind retrofit
Summary
The board approved a $102,138 budget transfer from the county's energy conservation project to an Emergency Communications Center wind-retrofit project to strengthen the facility's roof and protect critical communications infrastructure.
The Board of County Commissioners on Aug. 26 approved a budget amendment transferring $102,138 from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Project (Project 1310) to Emergency Communications Center (ECC) Project PF1004 to allow a wind-retrofit of the ECC roof.
George Erickson, director of Public Works and Transportation, said the ECC — built in 2001 to then-current standards — was designed to withstand Category 1 hurricane-force winds but that upgrades are needed to protect critical public-safety communications equipment, to withstand higher-impact winds and to reduce the need to relocate staff at lower wind speeds. County staff said the facility's design wind speed has been increased in the redesign to a 130 mph design speed (corresponding to gusts cited in the presentation) to improve resilience.
The project previously obtained FEMA/MEMA hazard-mitigation funds totaling $500,000 (a federal-state/county split cited by staff at 75/25 of the grant award amount); work to meet the new design has increased county exposure and changed the share of federal vs. county funding: staff said the overall split would move from the original 75/25 to approximately 62/38 federal/local after bid and insurance-cost impacts.
Erickson told the commissioners bids were within about 2 percent of the engineer's estimate excluding additional insurance costs and that project timing targets October–November for construction to avoid hurricane season and winter rains. He added that contractor insurance requirements and the presence of critical equipment at the site contributed to higher premiums and costs.
Commissioner Todd B. Morgan moved the budget transfer; Commissioner Cynthia L. Jones seconded. The motion carried by voice vote.
Ending: Staff said they will finalize bonding and insurance with the contractor in September, hold a preconstruction meeting and proceed with material orders so work can begin in October if schedules and weather allow.
