BOC Considers New E911 Center

The design and construction for Phase II of the new Gilmer County Courthouse included the shell of “bunker” styled space in the basement for a new Emergency 911 Center. Built to modern specifications for E911 Centers the plans called for constructing the shell, to include outer walls, and utilities but the interior finish and the equipment to run the center was left out because the Board of Commissioners felt the expense would be too great to add to the cost of Phases I & II of the courthouse project.

When bonds were issued in 2008 to fund the completion of Phase II, capital improvements for the building leased to Dalton College and the new county parking lots the amounts were based on then current cost estimates. When the bids came in for the work (specifically the parking lot) there was sufficient savings to help fund the E911 Center.

At the BOC Workshop on May 19, 2009 Commission Chairman, Mark Chastain introduced, to the Post 1 & 2 Commissioners, a plan which would provide for county workers completing the interior finish to the center. This may include hiring temporary employees from the trades that are currently out of work due to the economy. The Chairman indicated that he felt many of the components could be completed without the normal competitive bidding due to the fact that they are estimated to be less than $20,000.00 each.

The big caveat in this is the cost of the new equipment (hardware, software & installation) needed to make the center function. The BOC has advertised for a Request for Proposal (RFP) for all equipment, software and installation. Advertisements were published in the Times-Courier on May 21 and again on May 28, 2009.

The Board of Commissioners has an agenda item at the upcoming Board meeting on May 28, 2009 to further discuss plans for the center.