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Commissioners authorize pre-construction for new EOC; debate continues over separate sheriff backup call center
Summary
The board authorized the county manager to execute a pre-construction contract for a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and discussed whether a sheriff-specific backup 911 center is necessary, with staff saying the EOC is in early design and can be reworked to avoid duplication.
The board approved agenda item 24-0789 to authorize the county manager to execute a pre-construction contract for a new Durham County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Vice Chair Dr. Lee moved the contract authorization and Commissioner Valentine seconded; the motion passed with no opposition recorded.
Commissioner Jacobs and others raised concerns that certain design options would create a separate sheriff backup 911 center at an estimated additional cost of $4,500,000, potentially duplicating functions already provided by the Durham Emergency Communications Center (DECC). County engineering deputy director Perry Manns told commissioners the EOC is in the early stages of design and staff can revisit how backup call-center functionality is programmed into final plans.
"We are actually in the early stages of design on this project," Perry Manns said, adding there is time to look at operations and how services are delivered so the board can consider options during design. Staff said they will continue to coordinate with the city and county departments and return with recommendations.
The agenda materials describe the larger EOC project at approximately $40,000,000; design choices could add the estimated $4.5 million for a sheriff-related backup call center, depending on final programming. Commissioners asked staff for a clearer accounting of investments made to date, operating cost projections, and how DECC capacity and HEART expansion might be integrated.
The pre-construction authorization allows the county to proceed with design planning and contractor coordination; staff will report back with options intended to limit duplicative functions while enabling emergency backup capacity.
