MANSFIELD — Richland County commissioners on Tuesday approved up to an additional $83,000 for alterations to a project to upgrade, renovate and relocate aspects of the sheriff’s department — including the 9-1-1 dispatch center — within the Peoples Community Center.
The total cost for the project, the first the county has done under the design-and-build process, has risen to $916,000, though commissioners pointed out the upgrade of the county-wide digital emergency radio system had cost at least $500,000 less than initially anticipated.
The approved alterations, funded out of the county’s capital improvements budget, will allow for a remodeling of two rooms in the building for record keeping, remodeling and revamping the primary entrance to the building (currently a loading dock), ballistically safeguarding eight windows near the dispatch center and replacing two 15-year-old HVAC units on the center’s roof. It will also pay for data lines being extended longer than originally anticipated.
The project, initially approved by commissioners in August 2019, will be partially paid for by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office fees for concealed-carry permits ($107,000) and funds it receives from surcharges assessed to mobile devices that have internet plans ($150,000).
Commissioners acquired the Peoples Community Center in 2000 for $1 from then-Ashland Samaritan Hospital and have spent about $2.5 million in improvements over the two last two decades. They estimated Tuesday it would have cost the county about $13.5 million to build a new structure similar to the 60,000-square foot center.
They also said the relocation and renovation demonstrate a long-term commitment to the facility at 597 Park Ave. East.
“The taxpayers are making a sizable investment into this 9-1-1 facility and this building will be a part of the county government for a long time,” Commissioner Tony Vero said, adding the county is not borrowing money to finance the project.
Sheriff’s Capt. Jim Sweat said the project “touches the lives of every resident in Richland County.”
Commissioner Darrell Banks said the design-and-build approach, rather than seeking bids for the project, has worked well in this case.
“There were so many unknowns … this was probably the best way to go,” Banks said. “If we had bid this to someone, the bids would have come in much higher.”
Sweat said he expects the department to begin moving into the new center by September. Chuck Minnich, the county’s building maintenance superintendent, said the new center should be tested and operational by the end of the year.
The center will also utilize new software and hardware at a cost of $301,477, which will be funded through the wireless surcharge funds received by the sheriff’s office and also a a federal grant being passed through the state.
The current hardware/software package is eight years old and needs to be replaced, according to Sweat, who said the new equipment will allow for text messages to 9-1-1 and also video messaging in the future.
“The timing is perfect. We have been holding off,” Sweat said. “Rather than installing the new equipment in the old center, we will install it in the new center, test it out and switch it over.”
