MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Monongalia County commissioners are close to approving a new operations center for MECCA 911 in the Morgantown Industrial Park. County commission president Tom Bloom said the 9,600-square foot building will be built in a more central location with better connectivity to first responders.
“We’re saving money by probably being at the highest point of Monongalia County, so we won’t need a big tower,” Bloom said. “And we’ll be right by the interstate with the new interchange.”
Infrastructure and building projects have crippled by supply chain and cost increases, so the commission is working to keep this project on a tight budget.
“We got it down to $9 million with a $1 million contingency and we were very clear we want to keep it under $10 million,” Bloom said.
The Harmony Grove TIF will fund the construction of utilities and infrastructure leading to the facility. Morgantown Industrial Park owner, Enroute Properties will complete design work and negotiate a lease with bond counsel for the county. The lease will include a property tax factor so the Harmony Grove TIF district does not suffer financially.
According to Bloom, construction could start in January of 2023.
“If everything goes correctly it will be 18 months to 24 months we’ll be able to move in,” Bloom said.
The new building will replace the much smaller existing facility on Mon General Drive. The new facility will have enough space to put all emergency response tools under one roof and improve conditions for employees.