DeKalb County plans to build a public safety building near Center Hill Dam to meet the demand for quicker emergency service response times.
County Mayor Matt Adcock said the Wolf Creek Public Safety Building will be placed at the entrance of the dam. Adcock said the building will allow emergency services to address safety risks at the lake. Adcock said tourists frequent the lake, kayaking or boating. Adcock said boats can flip over, requiring swift water rescues.
“We’re gonna have access down to the lake,” Adcock said. “That’s one of our largest areas of concern, the area of Center Hill Dam. So the building is going to be in very close proximity with that structure.”
Adcock said the county chose the location for two reasons: it’s easy access to utilities and the many close communities without nearby first responders. Adcock said the building will serve as an essential resource for those communities near the dam.
“It’s a very rural area. This is going to be servicing the area of Edger Evans State Park, the Center Hill Dam and Lake and also the Wolf Creek community,” Adcock said. “There have been lots of challenges on finding a location for this public safety building.”
Adcock said local and state partners will utilize the building, such as Emergency Medical Services, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency and the rescue squad can use the building to accelerate response times for the high risk area.
“This is a very high traffic area, a lot of tourism, many people from other counties or other states visiting the state park,” Adcock said.
Adcock said the plot has access to utilities and will be able to service many under-served areas. Adcock said the county is drafting a contract with the Army Core of Engineers to obtain the property.
Adcock said the project has been in progress for many years, collecting information on where they should place the building. Adcock said the county has made significant budgeting requirements for the project, rolling over money in the budget every year for the building.