Movin’ on up
New 7,590-square-foot public safety facility to be built in Niland
NILAND — Efforts are underway to construct a new 7,590-square-foot public safety facility in Niland that will house an Imperial County Sheriff’s Office substation and a new fire station.
Imperial County provides fire and safety services for Niland — which has a population of about 1,000 residents according to the 2010 Census — and the surrounding area.
Construction of the $5 million project — funded by a recently awarded Community Development Block Grant awarded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development — is slated to begin in early 2019, according to Linsey J. Dale, Imperial County public information officer.
The new public safety facility, to be built at 8071 Luxor Ave., will be a “significant improvement for the town of Niland and [will facilitate] continuing resolve to provide services to the north end of our county,” said Ryan Kelley, Imperial County District 4 supervisor.
An additional $1.3 million CDBG grant has been awarded to Imperial County to fund improvements to existing community water system infrastructure in Seeley. The grant funds for both projects were secured through efforts by the Imperial County Community and Economic Development Department.
Current ICSO substation ‘dilapidated’
The current ICSO facility in Niland is exhibiting signs of dilapidation and lacks adequate space for staff, according to a press release. Excluding holding cells, the current facility is approximately 300 square feet. There are two deputies on duty per shift, with a total of eight assigned to the area.
At present, Imperial County fire staff is operating out of an 850-square-foot mobile home lacking necessary amenities needed to conduct
The CDBG program is a flexible instrument that allows us to help smaller cities and counties create jobs, homes, services and businesses. HCD is proud to award these funds to communities that have the need and desire to make critical improvements, but often lack the necessary resources to turn their plans into reality. Ben Metcalf, California Department of Housing and Community Development director
operations.
The ICSO portion of the new facility will consist of two offices, records, booking and interview rooms, restrooms and a breakroom.
The fire station portion will consist of living quarters, living area, restrooms with showers, lockers and gym area for fire personnel.
In addition, a 900-square-foot designated community room will be added that will include counter space, sink and restrooms. The community room also will serve as a community cooling center for use by Niland area residents during hot summer months.
“The future cooling center in the upcoming Niland Public Safety Facility will be overseen by the Imperial County Fire Department, which also serves as the Imperial County Office of Emergency Services,” Esperanza Colio-Warren, Imperial County Community and Economic Development manager, said Thursday afternoon via email.
“If there is a power-outage, the cooling center will be available to the community as it will have its own generator. This is one example of the efforts that [Imperial] County makes to provide services to its citizens.”
A computer room for internet services and a conference room will also be included in this portion of the facility.
A request for proposal for engineering services was completed before the grant application, according to Warren. Once the engineering plans are completed in about six months, the project will be bid out for construction. Construction is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
60-year-old water system
Dating back to the 1960s, the Seeley County Water District distribution system is aged and in need of replacement, according to a press release. Proposed improvements include replacing inadequate water pipeline sections with larger, looped pipelines that will increase the hydraulic capacity, and provide the water pressure necessary to service homes and fire hydrants in the area, including three new hydrants slated for installation in residential areas.
The water and wastewater special district includes 484 residential water connections and 13 industrial or commercial water connections, serving about 1,860 people.
“Improvements made to Seeley’s outdated water system are much needed and a long time coming to the community,” said Michael Kelley, Imperial County District 3. “We have been working hard to ensure Seeley receives benefits that have been neglected in the past.”
Construction on the Seeley project is expected to begin in early 2019.
CDBG funding
A total of $61.5 million in CDBG funding has been awarded to 19 counties across the state, including Imperial County, as part of the 2017-18 grant-cycle period, according to the California Department of Housing and Community Development.
The grants help fund various types of community enhancements, including single family or multifamily home rehabilitation, home ownership assistance, senior services, public water improvements, public safety improvements and programs for abused spouses.
“The CDBG program is a flexible instrument that allows us to help smaller cities and counties create jobs, homes, services and businesses,” said Ben Metcalf, California Department of Housing and Community Development director. “HCD is proud to award these funds to communities that have the need and desire to make critical improvements, but often lack the necessary resources to turn their plans into reality.”
The annual CDBG appropriation — originating from the federal government — is allocated between state and local jurisdictions referred to as entitlement or non-entitlement communities. Entitlement communities are typically metropolitan cities with populations of at least 50,000, and qualified urban counties with a population of 200,000 or more.
Non-entitlement communities typically include smaller rural areas and cities, including Niland and Seeley.
For more information about CDBG, visit http://hcd.ca.gov/ grants-funding/active-funding/cdbg.shtml