Knox County Emergency Operations Center Faces $1.4M Budget Hurdle

KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (We Are Knox County) - Plans for a new Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Knox County have hit a financial hurdle.

Knox County Commissioner President TJ Brink told WAKC News Now that three companies submitted proposals for the project.

The county had budgeted $2.3 million for the project, but the lowest bid came in about $1.4 million over budget.

According to Brink, Wolfe Construction in Vincennes submitted the lowest bid at about $3.7 million.

Taber Owens Construction of Washington bid nearly $3.9 million, while SCS Construction of Greenwood came in highest at just under $4.9 million.

“We are going to look at what we can cut from the budget so we can get it a bit closer to where we need to be financially without cutting the integrity of the project,” Brink said.

Brink told WAKC News Now that commissioners will hold an executive session within the next two weeks to review the proposals and explore options to reduce costs.

Despite the price gap, he remains confident that commissioners can agree on the necessary changes to keep the project moving forward.

The new Emergency Operations Center would be located at 2830 Arc Avenue in Vincennes, the site of the former Knox County Poor Farm.

The facility would house 911 central dispatch, the coroner’s office, and the Knox County Emergency Management Agency.

If all goes as planned, Brink said construction could begin as soon as this fall.