County officials show off new emergency center

Thursday, October 16, 2008
Putnam County EOC Manager Dave Costin shows Steve Hurst, Austin Chadd and Wanda Ostronic around the new center during the public open house earlier this week.

Putnam County's new Emergency Operations Center hosted an open house this week with a flag raising ceremony and tours.

Local dignitaries and Senators Connie Lawson and Amos Thomas who were instrumental in helping to attain funding for the project attended the event.

More than 60 people attended the invitation only ribbon cutting at the new center including numerous contractors and emergency management staff.

"All kinds of people were here from contractors to big wings. It is a great joy, given the current climate of the economy to have so many different people come together for a common goal for the common good," said EOC Manager Dave Costin.

Putnam County Planner and Emergency Management Director Kim Hyten and Costin went to Senator Connie Lawson several years ago with the blessing of the county commissioners, requesting a change in the law to allow Putnam County to use funds from the State's Hazardous Waste Fund to finance the center.

Putnam County has one of only two hazardous waste sites in Indiana. It is located on S.R. 236 in Russell Township.

The two testified in front of both the Indiana Senate and Congress relaying the reasons for building the 911 center which is years ahead of its counterparts, and for using the money from the hazardous waste fund to finance it.

For every ton of waste deposited in the site, the state gets 75 percent of the $11.50 per ton fee. Putnam County gets the other 25 percent ($1.50).

"The county received $1.2 million one year and averages about $1 million a year generally," said Costin.

The monies from this fund cannot legally be used for any other projects such as roads, property taxes or other issues. This means Putnam County residents are not paying for the facility.

In addition to housing the county's 911 center, the new facility will house the command center for emergencies like tornadoes, flooding or other disasters. It will be used for all types of emergency training and it has a generator that will keep the 911 Center and the County Highway Department up and running in a disaster.

It includes a training room with five 74-inch flat screen televisions, a smart board, projection capabilities, computer ports and a projection screen,

"The tower is twice the strength of the old one. The entire center has been designed to grow with the county and should fit the needs of the area for the next 50 years," said Hyten.

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  • I am a bit confused..If it is an open house why was it by invitation only? That is not an open house. They had an OPEN house at Lucas Oil Stadium and new Indianapolis Airport. Anyway...it sounds like a great 911 center! Good job to all those involved in bringing this technology to Putnam County!

    -- Posted by localjoe on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, at 5:10 AM
  • Hey, Banner, where is the EOC located?

    -- Posted by unbiased on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, at 7:14 AM
  • Unbiased,

    the new center is located off of the sunset extension. Turn West off of Jackson street toward the County Highway Department and follow the road about 1/2 a mile. If you haven't seen it yet it is an awesome facility, everyone in Putnam County should be proud of one of best Emergency OC's in the state...or country for that matter!

    -- Posted by climberguy on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, at 9:28 AM
  • Please explain your "new math":

    How is 25% of $11.50 equal to $1.50 ???

    I understand this is the age of the calculator and the use of computer programs to determine difficult mathematical equations. But most people should be able to divide $11.50 by 4 in their head.

    One should at least be able to review this article and clearly understand the math is incorrect.

    -- Posted by the grisled professor on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, at 12:50 PM
  • Invitation only......typical Greencastle.

    -- Posted by Harmony Church on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, at 4:05 PM
  • Way to go Dave!!! You have come a long way from the guy who sat in the little room, figuring out DOS. Be Proud Dave!! We are!!

    -- Posted by sad_but_true on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, at 5:37 PM
  • I wanted to see inside, but I wasn't invited.

    1 more for the elitests.

    -- Posted by hoop2077 on Thu, Oct 16, 2008, at 8:45 PM
  • The dedication ceremony was by invitation only however, the public was invited to tour the facility at 6pm. Congratulations on a very well deserved building.

    -- Posted by WTFRUthinkin on Fri, Oct 17, 2008, at 8:34 AM
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