Thursday, March 28, 2024
39.0°F

County closing in on new dispatch center

by MADISON HARDY
Staff Writer | September 3, 2020 1:06 AM

The clock is ticking on Kootenai County's new Emergency Operations Center as government entities scramble to solidify a funding source.

During Monday's meeting, the county commissioners discussed renovating and purchasing the vacant National Guard Armory at the Coeur d'Alene Airport-Pappy Boyington Field to turn it into the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management home base.

After posing the project last month, OEM director Tiffany Westbrook and KCSO are continuing to find a solution to acquire the 2.4-acre property. The brunt of the delay on commissioner approval stems from the lack of an established funding source. While there has been talk of assistance from CARES Act dollars, the KCSO budget, airport tax revenue, Federal Transit Administration grants, and county assistance, the entities still haven't nailed down a way to secure the site.

The county owns the 9,400-square-foot armory building itself. However, the land it sits on is the airport's property. Originally part of an 8-acre parcel, the county has worked with Hayden, the airport and the Department of Community Development to cut the armory property into a 2.4-acre segment. That land is appraised at $294,000.

According to Kootenai County Transit director Jody Bieze, to aid in financing the $294,000, airport director Steven Kjergaard said the airport could possibly contribute $161,000 in tax revenue. With this help, $134,000 would have to be supplemented by other county entities. In previous meetings, Bieze also mentioned there could be potential for grant funding from the Federal Transit Administration.

Undersheriff Dan Mattos has repeatedly mentioned that while the KSCO is willing to accept the brunt of the costs, there's a possibility they would be able to finance the project entirely. In Monday's meeting, Bieze mentioned there is a likelihood that $70,000 to $80,000 of the purchase would need to be covered by KSCO.

"I can't say to you that I can unequivocally let $80,000 out of my budget," Mattos said. "If we can do something temporarily with our budget and have you guys backfill it later, I'm more than willing to do that."

Initially proposed by Westbrook, the project intends to use $650,000 of CARES Act funding to renovate the armory into the OEM's new Emergency Operations Center. Part of the rush in solidifying the project is due to CARES dollars expiring in December. If the project is approved, the old armory would provide a designated location for a 24/7 emergency operations center, space for first responder training, housing for sheriff's K-9 units, and Hayden-based offices for deputies.

"The unfinanced $139,000 is what I lack to be comfortable," Duncan said. "I'm comfortable going ahead, and I think it's going to happen, but I can't commit without knowing a little bit more about where that money is going to come from."

Commissioners voted to allow Longwell Trapp Architects to begin planning the project. Still, final approval of the Emergency Operations Center will be determined Tuesday.

ROMER HOUSE

The BOCC will discuss a list of potential deed restrictions on the Romer House Music Conservatory next Wednesday. According to Commissioner Chris Fillios, regulations stipulate that the building is for only nonprofit use, rather than county development. After the deed restrictions are finalized, the building will be up for sale.

Fillios also suggested there's a potential buyer for the building. More information on that individual will be considered at the Sept. 9 meeting.

photo

Maria Dance Clayton plays the violin in the old dining room of the old Romer house off Government Way. Maria’s mother, Julienne Dance, aims to start a music conservatory for youth and adult lessons a