Connect With Your Community!
Connect With Your Community!
Proposed location on the east side of U.S. 287 across from Wheatland Road
At a community meeting hosted by the Broadwater County Commission last week, representatives from Slate Architecture discussed the process of a Preliminary Engineering Report (PAR) for a proposed Emergency Responder Facility.
In what he described as a fact-finding mission, Slate Architecture’s Scott Cromwell shared the location and a preliminary cost for the facility to house the Broadwater County Sheriff’s Office, Search and Rescue, fire, ambulance, and an emergency response/community room.
According to Cromwell, the proposed two-acre 1,632 square-foot facility would be located on the east side of U.S. 287 across from Wheatland Road on land given to Broadwater County. The facility would be in the Targeted Economic Development District. According to Cromwell, the proposed two-acre 1,632 square-foot facility would be located on the east side of U.S. 287 across from Wheatland Road on Targeted Economic Development District (TEDD) land given to Broadwater County. In the presentation, Cromwell estimated the total cost of the proposed project would be just shy of six million or $368 a square foot, adding this is before discussions can take place on what could be taken out of the facility to lower costs or if it could be done in phases. Cromwell discussed the importance of the PAR for funding opportunities like a Community Block Development Grant.
Cromwell said the visit to meet with stakeholders and the community meeting was an opportunity to see what is needed and what those costs will be. He said the PAR is a begging document to get the project started.
“You are on the ground level of this project,” he told the audience.
Broadwater County Attorney Cory Swanson said the county’s Southern end is growing the fastest, and in 20 years, he thinks from Toston south to Interstate will be the majority of the residents. Swanson added he has talked to many people who are thrilled about the growth and many who are not. He said it is a fact of life, and they are trying to get ahead of the curve.
Cromwell said the initial idea was to utilize three acres instead of the proposed two and, after concerns from residents about the possible expansion, said if they would be building to the east with an addition.
He added they need to get the right facility for their needs and to do this within budget. Cromwell said they would go back as a team, hone in on the information they got in Broadwater County, and look to see the funding opportunities. He invited those in attendance to return to another meeting about the facility around the end of July.
