CLARION, Pa. (EYT) — The Clarion County Commissioners July 28 took the next steps toward the construction of a new 9-1-1 facility in Paint Township, authorizing over $200,000.00 to be spent on actions associated with the project.
Clarion County Commissioners Wayne Brosius, Butch Campbell, and Greg Faller approved an amendment to an agreement with the EADS Group of Clarion at a cost of $196,000.00 and a new contract with Fike Associates, Inc. Surveying and Consulting of Clarion at a cost of $4,500.00.
Campbell said the Fike Associates work is to make sure the property is adequate for the construction of the proposed building.
“It is to make sure we can put a building on it as far as where the stakes are and if any wetlands on the site need to be address,” Campbell said.
The EADS Group work is moving toward final design on the 9-1-1 facility project, which has been in the works since April.
The project is designed to allow the county to have a permanent home for its 9-1-1 services, which must move out of its location in the former Clarion County Jail due to a number of issues. The county originally considered a plan to place the new building behind the old jail, but later abandoned that plan in favor of putting it at the Paint Township location.
“We’re getting ready to move forward with bidding, but obviously we won’t move forward until we make sure the site is applicable to put a building on,” Campbell said.
Campbell praised the design of the building, which places the county’s 9-1-1 services in a planned 8,000-square-feet facility, while many counties must use 11,000 to 15,000-square-feet for the same thing.
“It was truly done in a very efficient manner,” Campbell said.
Brosius said the county was able to accomplish this only because of constructing a new building.
“The building was designed to fit the form of our purposes, and because of that, it can be efficient instead of adapting an existing building. It will work for the county and serve the safety of our residents well,” Brosius said.
Timeline
The county is hoping to have a final design finished, bid the project, and award a contract by December 1, Campbell said.
“Construction can begin the day after the awarding of the contract, and it is up to the architect and the contractor and depends upon the weather. We’re hoping for an immediate start because our timing is to take advantage of lower construction costs, and that is why we are going with such an aggressive timeline,” Campbell said.
Debate Over Other Options
While he voted in favor of both moves, Faller said the commissioners did not take time to consider at least two other options for the 9-1-1 needs.
“We did not consider leasing options or a move to the old hospital (the Human Services building along South 7th Avenue in Clarion Borough),” Faller said.
Campbell countered a lease option had been considered and rejected.
“We did look at a possible lease option at the Bilo building, but it was more expensive than any office we have. I’m against a lease because moving the 9-1-1 center is a significant cost. With any other county office, you can move virtually any time you want, but with 9-1-1 you can’t, so at the end of the lease, you are at the mercy of the landlord, even with a ten year lease,” Campbell said.
Faller noted most 9-1-1 equipment has an expected life of ten years, to which Campbell countered “We’re already over ten years on all of it.”
