Del Norte supervisors detail request for new emergency operations center, seek federal earmark

The Del Norte County Board of Supervisors received an update on a congressionally designated spending request to establish a permanent Emergency Operations Center (EOC), modernize PSAP/dispatch operations and better support multiagency disaster response.

The assistant county administrative officer told the board the county submitted a request for federal funding and described the current arrangement as makeshift, saying “the EOC that we use is kind of a makeshift EOC.” The presenter said the county requested $4,000,000 and estimated the project would cost "a little over $3,000,000," leaving a shortfall the county would cover with capital improvement funds or other sources.

The presentation said the proposal would repurpose upstairs space at a county facility now used mainly for storage and archives, build dedicated EOC workspaces, and create a public-safety answering point (PSAP) and a dispatch center outside the sheriff’s current office. The presenter said the county has already secured written support from the city, the sheriff and several operational-area partners including fire districts.

Supervisors asked whether the EOC would be coordinated with the city; a supervisor recommended a single site for all partners to avoid duplication and communication problems. Public commenters raised long-term cost questions, including staffing and ongoing maintenance, and urged careful consideration of recurring operating expenses.

No formal action was required; the board received the update and acknowledged that the application was submitted under a tight federal timeline. Staff said the county will pursue additional funding sources if the federal request does not fully cover the project.

What’s next: The county will continue to pursue partner funding and follow up on the federal review of the congressionally designated spending request.