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Some question need to fortify building

Officials okay Emergency Operations Center.

By BARBARA BEHRENDT
Published November 22, 2006

INVERNESS - The County Commission on Tuesday approved the general design of the proposed Emergency Operations Center, but questions remain about whether the entire structure should be hurricane hardened.

Representatives from the architectural firm Schenkel-Shultz presented early design renderings of the EOC, which is planned for construction near the Lecanto Government Building.

They described in detail a plan for a building that would withstand hurricane-force winds of 165 mph with small, strengthened windows and a concrete roof.

Slated for completion by the beginning of hurricane season 2008, the building will house the county's emergency management department and emergency dispatch, and provide office space for the Sheriff's Office.

Commissioner Vicki Phillips questioned the need for the entire structure to be built to withstand a hurricane.

"We're putting office space into a hurricane-hardened building at additional cost," she said.

Sheriff's Capt. Joe Eckstein, Citrus County's emergency management director, explained that the office space would be needed by other Citrus officials if the area sustained a serious hit from a major hurricane.

"I don't know how much business we will be conducting if we have that kind of catastrophe," said Commissioner Joyce Valentino. "I still question the need to harden the whole building."

Eckstein noted that while it has not been a bad hurricane season, future seasons will likely not be so quiet, and the county needs to be ready to handle any future storms.

"This would be the only building in Citrus County totally case-hardened," Eckstein said.

But Valentino and Phillips were not convinced.

"We're using a lot of taxpayers' money. We're not using grant money. This is coming right out of the taxpayers' pockets," Phillips said. "Our track record has not been the best with buildings we build. I don't want there to be a mistake in a building built for this use."

Phillips expressed concern that the new building's projected cost of $12-million could grow to $20-million.

Commissioners asked for cost estimates, including an estimate for what the project would cost without hurricane hardening the office space, to be provided before the commission's final vote on the project.

Eckstein said those details should be ready to review in January. The commission's approval of the general design, which was unanimous Tuesday, will allow the county's approved construction manager, Welbro Building Corp., to provide more detailed cost estimates, he said.

Commission Chairman Dennis Damato, who questioned many of the specific construction aspects of the project, expressed support with the initial design elements.

"Everyone wants to see this done one time, one time right," he said.

Barbara Behrendt can be reached at 564-3621 or behrendt@sptimes.com.

[Last modified November 21, 2006, 22:05:01]