Redmond council awards fire dispatch center contract

The Redmond City Council Tuesday night approved a $2,654,000 contract with Griffin Construction, LLC for the construction of a new Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center at the Redmond Municipal Airport.

The planned 7,000-square-foot facility is part of a 20-year lease agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, supporting their efforts to relocate the Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center from Prineville Airport to the Redmond Air Center at Redmond Municipal Airport.

The Forest Service’s COIDC provides dispatch support and coordination for all risk incidents for the Oregon Department of Forestry, BLM Prineville District, the Deschutes and Ochoco national forests and the Crooked River National Grassland. They conduct over 1000 flight operations and disperse approximately a million gallons of fire retardant annually.

The development of a new, centrally located dispatch center at the Redmond Airport will improve efficiency and safety of those operations as well as the agency’s ability to respond to risk incidents, officials said.

“The city has had a successful 50+ year history with the U.S. Forest Service in the development of airport property,” said Redmond Airport Manager Zachary Bass. “We look forward to continuing that partnership for another 20 years, as well as expanding the airport’s role in regional USFS firefighting efforts.

“Construction of the new dispatch center will make Redmond Air Center one of the largest USFS firefighting bases in the country.”

Since 2000, the city of Redmond has invested $5 million in build-to-suit USFS facilities on airport property. The cost and risk of building these facilities is offset by long=term lease agreements.

The City issued a 20 year full faith and credit $2.5 million bond to finance the new COIDC facility earlier this year. The annual debt payment is $178,386.00 a year.

The finalized lease with the Forest Service is for a guaranteed (cannot be terminated) 20 years at an annual rate of about $189,000, subject to final square footage verification, as well the costs related to tenant improvements and other security requirements.

The Forest Service has committed up to $150,000 towards additional tenant improvements, which are currently being negotiated. As it stands currently, the airport will be providing $670,000 to fund the project.

The total project cost is currently estimated at $3.17 million.

“The Central Oregon Interagency Dispatch Center is an integral part of emergency operations in the region,” said Mayor George Endicott. “During a recent visit to Redmond Municipal Airport, Governor Brown commended the level of interagency cooperation across our region. We are proud of the recognition, and will continue the tradition of collaborative partnerships.”