By Glenn Rolfe

GEORGETOWN — Sussex County leaders were beaming with delight Tuesday as a significant milestone in a multimillion-dollar project was achieved.

Namely, putting the county Emergency Medical Services department and its Emergency Operations Center under one roof.

Signed by local, county and state officials during a “topping-out” ceremony, a final steel beam was hoisted by crane and placed atop the existing EOC — the focus of a nearly $12 million expansion to create a consolidated public safety complex for 911 dispatchers, paramedics and other first responders.

“This is a great day for Sussex County to raise the last beam in place,” said county administrator Todd Lawson at Tuesday’s event.

The initiative includes the renovation of the current EOC on Rudder Lane at the county-owned Delaware Coastal Airport, along with attaching a 19,999-square-foot EMS hub. Several portions of EOC — kitchen, lobby, offices and public-access hallway — will be updated.

In plans announced last year, EMS will move its warehouse from the aging West Administrative Complex, off Dupont Boulevard in Georgetown, to the new complex.

Top of mind when redesigning the facility was training, which is already nationally and internationally acclaimed. There will be a classroom and simulation rooms, smaller rooms for breakout sessions and a large area to hold the “Simbulance,” an apparatus that provides a realistic simulated ambulance experience.

“There are two things that we are really looking forward to,” said Sussex County EMS director Robbie Murray. “One is we are all going to be under the same roof. Currently, our logistics division operates out of a separate building, and our warehouse operates out a separate building. So this is an opportunity to bring all of those under the same roof.

“Then, probably the most important, is the state-of-the-art training facility. We’re going to be able to almost double the size of the classroom we are currently using,” he continued. “We’re going to have five simulation rooms. Our training and our education has always been at that paramount importance, and this is really going to really allow us to demonstrate that and have the space for it.”

Mr. Lawson agreed.

“What’s even more important is they are going to be given first-class training, classrooms and first-class office space, logistics space. If you would ever see the space that they are operating out of right now, this is a much-needed benefit for them,” he said. “We already have the best paramedics in the country. Now, we are going to be able to give them the best facility and be able to facilitate that right here.”

The county’s EMS currently has nine 24-hour stations, another in operation in the daytime only and one seasonal unit (with another seasonal service in the works).

Additionally, the consolidated base for EOC — headed by director Joe Thomas — and EMS will allow responders to manage emergency incidents in a more efficient manner.

“When a storm comes and we are in an emergency situation, (when) Joe Thomas’ team is administering the emergency management plan, whether it is a weather situation or otherwise, that entire operation runs out of this building,” said Mr. Lawson.

As the low bidder, with a proposal of $8.2 million, Wilmington-based Bancroft Construction was awarded the project’s contract last summer. Costs also include architecture, design work, extensive sitework, information technology, furniture, a cooling tower and other amenities.

Funding for the project is supported by county realty transfer tax savings.

“This is being paid for by county savings, nearly $12 million in RTT savings,” said Mr. Lawson. “The county has money that we (put) aside for this purpose, and when it comes time to improve our assets, we are able to do so.”

Early spring 2023 is the target date for completion.