Work is set to begin on a new $4.6 million emergency operations center in Elliott County.
Initially granted the funds in 2022, officials said the plan had to go before the state for approval. Now a memorandum of agreement has been signed and preparations are underway.
Elliott County Judge Executive Myron Lewis said the emergency services buildings in the county are old, outdated, and in desperate need of improvements.
“In 1973 the first fire department in Sandy Hook as we know it today was constructed, it’s a block building. It’s just not conducive to good heat and air at all. It’s an old building, it has had its lumps, it’s been hit by firetrucks through the years, as any building would be,” said Lewis.
In addition to that need, the 911 dispatch office burned down and has been operating out of a side room at the Elliott County Health Department.
Lewis said the new building will have space for emergency operations, 911 services, and the fire department. It will also serve as a classroom space for first responders to continue their education and in times of need, it will be used as a warming center.
“Every county needs one of these. It’s imperative that we have something safe when disaster strikes. When there is an emergency and your emergency management director pretty much takes over the county, it is absolutely imperative that they have a safe, structural, sound facility to work out of to drive that initiative to help save lives, to help get power back on,” said Lewis.
Other projects in the county include the construction of a food pantry for the Elliott County Christian Community Center and water infrastructure improvements.