Expensive Repairs Needed at 911 Center
By: Barb Consiglio
Updated: May 4, 2010
JEFFERSON COUNTY - The emergency dispatch center in Jefferson County needs hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs. In the meantime, 911 operators will have to work in an alternative office.
Two years ago, water was discovered in the basement of the Jefferson County 911 center. Officials had the problem fixed and moved on.
In March of 2010, they found more water damage, but this time it was on the second floor. That's when county officials realized that the problem was more extensive than they originally thought.
Jefferson County Commissioner Paul Corbin said that it stems from the construction of the building 16 years ago. He said the building should have been sealed every two to three years, but the county didn't follow up on that.
The estimated cost of repairs to the building is $300,000 to $500,000. A small portion of that will be covered by insurance. Jefferson County Commissioners said that they're looking into potential grants or low-interest loans to finance the repair project.
In the meantime, the Jefferson County 911 Center is operating at a backup location. The Director of Emergency Services in Jefferson County, Tracy Zents, says that while this is an inconvenience, it won't pose a problem to the service that they offer for the county.
