Halifax County commissioners approved the resolution at its Monday morning meeting.

Deputy Halifax County Manager Dia Denton confirmed today commissioners in Warren and Franklin counties approved the resolutions.

Halifax County commissioners have already allotted land for the proposed facility beside the cooperative extension building on Ferrell Lane.

The facility is the result of a 2017 grant allocation of $2 million as well as anticipated grant funds for this year.

Heather Joyner, 911 Center director, said following the meeting average cost of a 911 center is $5.5 million.

The current 911 center has been in operation since 1996 and employees work out of a basement in the historic courthouse in Halifax.

There is not enough space in the current location for expansion, said Halifax County Emergency Services Director Phil Ricks. “We need space,” he said today, explaining the center started with at least three positions “and now we have six. Our space is maxed out. There is no room to grow.”

The 911 center has modern equipment installed and a new telephone system installed.

The state 911 board, he said, is looking to fund projects which regionalize services, explaining regional projects increase the chance for funding.

The state board has mandated Halifax to have its backup center. Renovations have been done to a building in the 500 block of Jackson Street in Roanoke Rapids to serve as the backup center.

Ricks said all that’s left for the county’s backup center is getting requests for proposals on the equipment and submitting them to the state board.

After Monday’s meeting Ricks said, “We hope to get 100 percent from the 911 board.”

Joyner said, depending on the outcome of funding, the ultimate construction of the facility will be a 30-month process.

Denton said in her presentation to the Halifax commissioners, “Staff is moving forward with plans to locate a new Primary Public Safety Answering Point on Ferrell Lane which will also serve as a regional backup center for Warren and Franklin counties.”

The documents signed by the boards will be submitted to the North Carolina 911 Board as part of the county’s revised application for funding the facility.

Staff traveled to the county seats of Franklin and Warren to request approval of the documents.

“Halifax County staff has worked closely with both Warren and Franklin county staff to come to agreement on the resolution and interlocal agreement. At the staff level, all three counties are in agreement with the resolution and interlocal agreement,” Denton said in documents contained in Monday’s agenda packet.

The grant application will address the funding for construction and equipment, the agreement notes.

Construction or renovation of the regional PSAP and other related capital costs not covered by 9-1-1 grant and fees will be funded by appropriations made at the discretion of the Halifax County Board of Commissioners.

The Facility will include at least the following:

A dispatch area

Director and supervisor administrative offices, technology specialist offices, clerical and  office space

Radio/recording/CAD/9-1-1 technology equipment rooms, mechanical rooms, storage for inventory, supplies and records

A locker room,

Bathroom/shower facilities

Kitchen

Lunch/break room

Training area

Multi-purpose classroom/conference room