A former jail could soon be transformed into the new home of the Galesburg/Knox County dispatch center.
Aldermen tonight will be asked to approve the use of the sixth level of the Public Safety Building, once the former Knox County Jail, for construction of a new $1.8 million public safety dispatch center. The Galesburg City Council meets at 6 p.m. today at Galesburg City Hall.
Galesburg Police Chief Russ Idle tells WGIL the current Galesburg/Knox County dispatch center is over 25 years old and in need of being upgraded and replaced.
The Knox County Emergency Telephone System Board plans to renovate a city owned building, which requires upgrades and repairs to properly serve as the city/county public safety dispatch center. The scope of the base bid includes asbestos abatement, complete tear out, renovation of walls, new flooring and ceiling, new electrical, and new data wire and jacks.
The Knox County ETSB accepted bids for this project and has chosen the lowest most responsible bid from Valley Construction. Their total bid amount for the project is $1,755,000. Separate bids were also accepted for the necessary asbestos abatement. The lowest responsible bidder was Husar Abatement Ltd, providing a total bid of $41,000.
The ETSB is responsible for the full cost of both projects, and there will be no cost to the city general fund.
If approved by aldermen, Idle said construction of the project will start in the first quarter of 2025 and should be completed by the first quarter of 2026.
Idle said the public will not notice any changes to the 911 service that it provides.
