A major step on Erath County’s Joint Dispatch Center was approved Monday as pre-construction/ construction go ahead was given the nod of approval.
The center will be located in the old tax office as a major conversion and expansion takes place. McKinstry, which was awarded the project in March after a competitive bid process, is using a Design Build process and detailed the advantages to the court.
The contract with McKinstry was executed this month and pre- construction has now started. On-Site construction will kick off in October and will last through June 2026.
Gabriela Fierro, McKinstry Senior Account Executive was present Monday, Aug. 25 with a presentation on the center showcasing some highlights of the design.
“It has been incredible to work with your team,” she said. “Everyone has been great.”
Some highlights of the renovated/expanded facility will include a covered, lighted walkway from the parking lot into the secured building, high windows to allow light into the building, an Emergency Operations Center and a large dispatch space. The facility will also have a drive thru, pass through for officers to be able to receive and give paperwork from their vehicles without leaving prisoners unattended.
The dispatch room will have space for up to eight dispatchers, a dedicated office space for the dispatch manager, a shift supervisor office located next to joint dispatch, a dedicated restroom, a quiet room, a locker room and storage space for warrants, records and 911.
Inside the emergency operations center there is an EOC command center, two breakout offices, a tactical briefing room, a policy conference room, four individual restrooms, workstations and additional offices and security.
The building will also have an emergency generator.
Preliminary estimates on the project ranged from $3.1 million to $ 4.1 million, however, McKinstry presented and the court approved the cost of $3.6 million (with a $50,000 contingency) for the renovation/expansion. This amount does not include furniture and other needs to outfit the building.
“These amounts are being split between us and the city of Stephenville,” County Judge Brandon Huckabee said.
A specified amount will be kicked in annually by the city of Dublin and Tarleton PD as joint dispatch will also handle their dispatching needs.
“We are building this for our future,” Huckabee said. “We want to make it safer for our officers and dispatchers.”
The plans have been evaluated by the Emergency Board, the County Judge and the commissioners.