CLAREMORE — Rogers County Commissioners voted Thursday during a special meeting to incorporate the county's Emergency Management Operations into the new E911 center.
The project's achitects, BKL Inc., proposed plans for the $1.6 million dollar E911 operations center. Originally the E911 Center would have been 4,000 sq. ft. and now will be enlarged to 6,500 sq. ft to handle both the dispatch and emergency management operations.
The projected $1.6 million price tag did not include an estimate for equipment costs associated with the project.
Originally the proposed total cost for the project was estimated at $2 million.
Changes in design and proposed location have directly impacted the overall cost of the project.
Commissioners are currently considering Inola as the new location for the facility. The move to Inola would add additional telecommunication costs not originally included in the project.
It is not the initial cost of moving the specialized phone lines needed for the center that will break the budget; it is the monthly charges associated with the location that may break the budget, according to Darita Huckabee, Legislative and Legal Affairs representative for INCOG.
The commissioners also held a discussion about the addition of the Rogers County Emergency Management to the center. There was a conflict in statements as officials tried to determine the role of the EOC center at the E911 facility.
“The initial plan was for the center was for it to be a regional 911 center. I believe I was over ruled on that. That never was something we originally talked about it. With the EOC being part of the project it changes the scope of the project. I was never for that and don’t believe the committee was either. It looks like I am being over ruled.” Commissioner Dan DeLozier said.
“The office at the courthouse is for administrative purposes you would not be able to rely on the space for emergency management services,” said Kim Reeve, AIA President of BKL Incorporated.
“Are you saying the EOC is a full-time at the center?” Kirt Thacker asked.
The response was conflicting as the architect tried to explain the proposed use and the space available in the courthouse.
The size of the EOC in the new courthouse had been previously downsized to administrative offices. County commissioners previously approved the plans for the courthouse and any changes to the project would now require a change order.
It was unclear exactly how the changes to E911 center occurred and conflicting statements were made by both the architect and the commissioners.
Ultimately Commissioners Kirt Thacker and Mike Helm voted in favor of approving the proposed plans for the E911 and Emergency Management Center.
The commissioners will meet 9 a.m. Mon., Nov. 7 to determine proposed Inola location and currently no estimates have been given for the exact additional costs associated with move.
Issues regarding the available telecommunication system in Inola remain and will be added to Monday’s agenda according to county officials.
Conflict between the location, details of the plan and addition of EOC operations were the main items of discussion, as the meeting did not clearly state the overall intentions of the commissioners.
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