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Weston to build new emergency operations center [Sun Sentinel](South Florida Sun Sentinel (FL) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Dec. 03--WESTON -- The city is finally building its emergency operations center nearly 18 years after it was incorporated. The new, $5.2 million building will allow city staff to respond to an emergency or disaster in a centralized, state-of-the-art location rather than cramming city officials into a makeshift multipurpose room in the city's police building that has to be assembled for each event. "During an emergency, we squeeze everybody into a community room in the police department. It makes it tight quarters for operational purposes," said Weston Mayor Daniel Stermer. "It's really the last public governmental operations building we've been missing." Weston officials approved taking out a loan to pay for the $5.2 million center south of Royal Palm Boulevard and east of Bonaventure Boulevard between city hall and the fire station. Officials also approved a $1.3 million loan to pay for emergency medical service vehicles. The 25,555-square-foot, three-story center will be built so it can "withstand the largest storm we could anticipate," said Stermer. The building will also "house city staff and service providers before, during and after disaster events for extended durations if necessary," said City Manager John Flint. The new building will also house the city's information technology hardware and building services department and will be used daily for code services The construction for the center should begin in March and be complete within one year, said city staff.. "There aren't enough facilities to run things 24 hours a day," said Stermer. "We need a hardened facility that we can move to." [email protected] or 954-356-4188 ___ (c)2013 the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) Visit the Sun Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) at www.sun-sentinel.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |