BY JEFF CHUDZINSKI

North Country This Week

CANTON — County officials are soliciting bids for renovations at the public safety complex.

Legislators approved a resolution to solicit bids during the full board meeting on Aug. 7.

According to the resolution, St. Lawrence Count renovated the building at 49 1/2 Court Street in 1994.

The building was changed from an emergency bunker to a public safety complex that included a new administrative office space for economic development, as well as the One-Stop Career Center, a location for law enforcement and public safety answering point for 911 calls.

Legislators say the facility is now in need of updated functional space and technology after 30 years of continuous use and department funding changes.

The Building and Grounds Committee has since reviewed the current and future needs of the public safety complex and is ready to make recommendations for improvements, officials say.

The building is currently occupied by the Sheriff’s Office road patrol and civil enforcement divisions, Emergency Services (PSAP), Planning and Conflict Defender, along with New York State Police, who lease space on the first floor.

According to the resolution, the need for an updated and state-of-the-art 911 center has been evaluated, along with the upgrade to the radio system will increase the volume in the center with an additional two desks and capacity for two more in the future.

The new and better equipment will create an increased ability to respond, officials say.

In 2021, District Attorney Gary Pasqua had also shown interest in sharing the space in the public safety complex as well, according to the resolution.

Work began with the Buildings and Grounds Committee assembling the departments, at which time they brought in a firm to design the space.

Officials say adequate office space, updating the PSAP, creating an official Emergency Operations Center adjacent to the department and providing secure access points were the primary initiatives.

County officials authorized spending $5 million in ARPA funding, provided in 2021, to be used for capital projects. The public safety complex was the first to be deemed ready for construction, county officials say.

Officials say they hope the project will “assimilate law enforcement and the District Attorney’s Office in one location and making dramatic improvements to the PSAP (911 Center) to increase capacity and improve service.”

The acting architect on the project will be Beardsley Design & Associates, working on behalf of the county to conduct the necessary activities for the bid process.

The buildings and grounds supervisor assigned to the county administrator’s office will be assigned to represent the county as the owner’s representative and clerk of the works.