Emergency response facility planning picks up

With $500,000 in seed money now in hand, preparations to build a Lake County Regional Emergency Response Facility are mobilizing.

The city of Mentor recently received the promised funding from the Ohio Department of Public Safety for the facility, which will house, protect and deploy 20 specialized response units.

“We are primarily looking at the construction of a less than 12,000-square-foot, one-story structure that is a functional and attractive, and well-suited for the neighborhood, and is completed under budget,” Mentor Fire Chief Robert Searles said.

The total cost is estimated at $2 million.

Searles met last week with Assistant City Manager Tony Zampedro to narrow down the building site. The targeted area is Lost Nation Airport property behind fire station No. 4 at 6900 Reynolds Road.

City officials also have met with CT Consultants to better define the building footprint based on the needs of the various agencies. A conceptual layout is anticipated in the next three to four weeks.

The specialized units are to include SWAT, the Regional Urban Search and Rescue Team, the regional Medical Incident Response Team, regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, and the Nuclear Dive and Response Team.

In addition, the facility will contain trailers and emergency supplies, and be used to coordinate an efficient response to potential emergencies in Northeast Ohio.

Another recent step was a meeting among fire, police and engineering departments to determine each’s needs and program requirements.

“We had good discussion on the development process,” Searles said. “Site, facility design, required accessory functions, budget, storage needs, security and potential for additional grant funding guided additional conceptual design input and a discussion on the bid spec development requirements.”

Mentor Police Department will house some equipment for its bomb squad there, police Capt. Andrew Lehner said.

“It will benefit the police department specifically because the building will provide a location that is readily accessible for response to emergencies,” he said.

The initial funding, which is part of the state operating budget, was announced in October by state Rep. Ron Young, R-Leroy Township.

The city administration had been working for several years on a plan for such a facility to be located in Mentor and not only house several specialty units, but also to provide “link access” to key transportation infrastructure.

“By consolidating tactical special equipment and response teams in direct proximity to the airport, we can coordinate these resources with state and federal response efforts and supply networks,” City Manager Ken Filipiak said.

Searles anticipates construction beginning in early 2019 with completion the same year.