The Project is Now Out To Bid

Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger has announced that the County has been awarded a $2 million NYSERDA grant for the energy-smart and resilient Emergency Communications Center to be built on Paradies Lane in New Paltz. The facility will include super-insulated walls,  geothermal heating and cooling (a renewable resource), and solar with battery backup. 

Bid documents have now been released to construct the state-of-the-art facility, which will house the County’s Department of Emergency Services, including the Emergency-911 center, Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and the Divisions of Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services. During a natural disaster or other type of emergency, the EOC serves as the central point of coordination for emergency response and recovery. Depending on the type of emergency, the EOC may include personnel from federal, state, and local agencies, the utility, first-responders and others, in addition to County personnel. The 15,650 square-foot facility has been designed to operate during natural disasters, power outages, and other types of emergencies, greatly enhancing the County’s emergency response capabilities.

Construction is anticipated to begin in late Spring/early Summer, with an 18-24 month timeline for completion.

The Legislature passed a resolution in December adopting and issuing a negative SEQRA declaration for the project — a determination that the project would not have significant adverse environmental impacts and can proceed as planned.

“The County’s current emergency facilities are outdated, under-sized, and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, such as power outages during severe weather when those facilities are needed most," said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “We have designed a new Emergency Communications Center that is energy-smart, resilient, and capable of withstanding any kind of natural disaster or threat, and I want to thank NYSERDA for investing in this worthy and much-needed project. I also want to thank our Emergency Services Director Everett Erichsen and Planning Director Dennis Doyle for all the careful planning and work they’ve put into this project, as well as the Legislature for recognizing the great benefits this new Emergency Communications Center will bring.”

"This $2 million NYSERDA grant is a transformative investment in Ulster County's emergency response infrastructure," said Everett Erichsen, Ulster County Department of Emergency Services Director. "The new sustainable facility on Paradies Lane will combine cutting-edge technology with environmental responsibility through features like geothermal heating and solar power. This represents another major step in our commitment to delivering modern, efficient emergency services that Ulster County residents deserve."

“The Ulster County team, including the County Executive’s Office and the Departments of Emergency Services and Planning, created an ambitious and forward-thinking design vision for an Emergency Communications Center that is “carbon neutral” — the electrical systems exclude the use of fossil fuels,” said Kristen Wilson, Deputy Director of Planning. “Geothermal heating and cooling, a roof solar system, and extremely insulated walls will strengthen the resilience of this building that will have a 100-year life span. It is always a pleasure when grant funding from NYS and other sources can be secured to support innovative projects like this one and reduce the County’s financial burden to provide essential and exemplary services to its residents.”

“Ulster County is deeply grateful to NYSERDA for this transformative grant,” said Peter Criswell, Chair of the Ulster County Legislature. “This funding allows us to build a sustainable, state-of-the-art Public Safety Communications Building that will significantly enhance our emergency response capabilities while exemplifying our commitment to environmental stewardship. With features like geothermal heating and cooling, solar power, and super-insulated walls, this facility will not only serve our community’s immediate needs but also set a benchmark for resilient and sustainable infrastructure. We look forward to breaking ground this spring and advancing safety and sustainability hand in hand.”

“This is a very exciting time for Ulster County,” said Gina Hansut, Ulster County Legislator and Law Enforcement and Public Safety Committee Chair. “As a county, we provide many services to our constituents, visitors etc. Not everyone benefits from all services. Our new Emergency Communications Center will provide services that everyone can benefit from. This building is long overdue, and I can't wait to break ground and to begin the building process.”

The County purchased the 57.3-acre property in May 2024 for $2.8 million — $200,000 less than the 2022 agreed price between the property owner and the County. County Executive Metzger negotiated the price reduction to more fully account for environmental remediation costs, as the site is in the NYS Brownfield Program, and site remediation will be consistent with what is required by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. 

The 2024 Executive Budget created an $18 million capital reserve for the Emergency Communications Center. By dedicating these funds from the County's excess fund balance in a reserve, taxpayers will save more than $1 million annually in borrowing costs.

The New Paltz location provides access to reliable, uninterrupted power and redundant fiber optic infrastructure, and is also ideally located to provide quick access to major thoroughfares: the New York State Thruway, and Routes 32 and 9W.

Currently, the County’s Emergency-911 call center answers more than 130,000 emergency and non-emergency calls per year.