Clay County leaders are beginning early plans for a new 911 center, aiming to improve response times.
County Commissioner Joyce Johnson says the goal is to better equip dispatchers and first responders, especially in areas where cell and radio service remain unreliable. ABC 8 said, in some cases, crews have to find higher ground just to make contact.
Right now, 911 operators work in a cramped space inside a flood-prone building that was heavily damaged in 2016.
After years of securing funding, the county now has $4.6 million in federal support to move the project forward. Officials say the new facility will focus on essential needs, not extras.
Construction is expected to begin in 2027.