[May 08, 2009] County dedicates new communications center Tweet May 08, 2009 (The Olathe News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- A new $21 million Johnson County emergency communications center was dedicated this week in Olathe and becomes operational in June. It will house the communications center that is now in Mission, the sheriff's dispatch unit and the Olathe Police Department's communications operations. "I am very confident this will be a good partnership," said Johnson County Sheriff Frank Denning. The center also will be used to coordinate emergency response during a natural disaster or terrorist attack. Officials called it a "hardened" facility with 12-inch concrete walls designed to withstand an F-4 tornado with winds up to 240 miles an hour. County officials expect the structure, located at 118th Street and Ridgeview Road, to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified by the United States Green Building Council. It would become the third "silver" certified building in Kansas. The building is highly insulated with an 11,000-square-foot "vegetated green" roof that will improve energy efficiency and absorb rain water. Pat McGown, a partner in McGown-Gordon Construction, said the building helps to minimize the county's carbon footprint. "It's a building that serves a greater purpose," he said. "This building serves all the citizens of Johnson County." Design work is expected to begin later this year on an addition to the center -- a new crime lab approved by voters last year. Annabeth Surbaugh, chairwoman of the Johnson County Commission, said the building represented a new level of security and efficiency. Surbaugh was among numerous police and county and city officials attending today's ceremony, which included speeches and a ribbon cutting. Those included Olathe Mayor Mike Copeland, Sen. Karin Brownlee of Olathe, Sheriff Frank Denning and Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe, as well as several police chiefs To see more of The Olathe News or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.olathedailynews.com/. Copyright (c) 2009, The Olathe News, Kan. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]