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Public Works Director Greg Caldwell outlines $99 million plan including co‑located fire‑sheriff stations and regional training facility
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Summary
On Episode 4 of County Conversations, Public Works Director Greg Caldwell described St. Johns County’s capital improvement work: 18 projects totaling $99,000,000, two fire-station renovations, a new model co‑locating sheriff and fire services, a 15,000‑square‑foot regional tactical training facility, new libraries and a Hastings community center.
Public Works Director Greg Caldwell said St. Johns County is pushing a multi‑project capital-improvement effort this year that includes 18 projects valued at $99,000,000, renovations to two existing fire stations and a new model for constructing fire stations that co‑locates sheriff’s office space with fire services.
"We are co locating the sheriff's office and fire services in 1 building," Caldwell said, adding the approach lowers construction costs and supports closer operational cooperation among public-safety staff. He identified Chief McGee and Sheriff Hardwick as partners in the effort.
Caldwell also described a recently completed regional tactical training facility the county helped build. He said the 15,000‑square‑foot site includes a driving track and elevated tactical-operation training and will be available to regional agencies. "If there's a school shooting, if there's a shooting at a movie or at a church, they're gonna be able to be trained at this facility to be able to respond accordingly," Caldwell said.
The director said Public Works is also supporting library expansions led by Deborah Rhodes Gibson, the county’s library director, including new branches inside regional parks, a standalone library in the county’s northeast and a new community center in Hastings that will feature a major library hub.
Caldwell described the Infrastructure Delivery Team as an internal working group that meets every other week and includes purchasing, facilities, parks and recreation, land management and the office of management and budget. He said the team’s purpose is to "break down walls," coordinate project placement, identify obstacles and speed financially responsible delivery. He noted the school board and the sheriff’s office participate, and that the team helped negotiate cost‑sharing agreements such as work on Courtney Vista Drive.
County officials and county administration, Caldwell said, have supported the projects through a mix of grant opportunities and county funds; he described the county’s approach as mindful of speed and fiscal responsibility. The episode directs listeners to the county’s featured‑projects page for more information at sjcfl.us/featured-projects.
The podcast concluded with a program signoff identifying Wayne Larson as the county’s director of public affairs.
