Officials want to replace cramped quarters through grant funding
Clay County could build a new $3 to 4 million, 6,000 square feet 911 center if all goes well with an application for grant funding.
Commissioners recently signed a resolution giving the green light to County Manager Debbie Mauney to take steps to pursue grant funding through the North Carolina 911 Board Primary Public Safety Program. One of those steps include using grant money secured from Dogwood Health Trust to pay $24,816 to Mission Critical to write the grant.
“Our current building is only 450 square feet and has many challenges of not only space, but old technology, data sharing, future exit/entry challenges and parking due to the new Bypass,” Mauney said Wednesday morning. “911 has experienced a significant turnover over the years and we are hoping a new facility will provide a better working environment and help with staff turnover.”
The grant was submitted on June 1 with a request of $4,375,194 total project cost, according to Mauney. “The majority of the money will go for state of the art equipment.”
The proposed building site, which she said is subject to change, is planned for the Clay County Industrial Park where the county already owns land, off of Highway 69 near the Georgia border. This site already has water and sewer access. The county financial commitment is only the land.
“Ricky Lancaster, Jeff Ledford and I will be presenting to the State 911 Board about our needs on Monday, July 13.
Awards will be made in October 2020.
The current 911 facility is located on BHighway 64 Business near the Emergency Medical Services building. The EMS building is not included in the 911 center project.