The October 23, 2025, groundbreaking ceremony for the new Ray County 911 Emergency Dispatch Center marks a major milestone in the county’s ongoing commitment to public safety. The new, state-of-the-art facility represents years of planning, collaboration, and dedication to ensuring that local emergency services have the resources and infrastructure they need today and for decades to come.
“From the moment the 1% sales tax was enacted in April 2018, the elected Board of Directors began planning for this day,” said Paul Harris, Chairman of the Ray County 911 Board. “We made a commitment early on to set aside 10% of every tax revenue payment for the sole purpose of funding a new facility designed and engineered specifically to serve as an emergency dispatch center.”
After careful study with architectural engineers, the Board determined that upgrading the current facility at 102 W. N. Main Street in Richmond was not a viable option. The existing building could not be modified to meet FEMA ICC 500 standards, which ensure safety for staff who must continue operating during severe weather or other emergencies. Nor did the site allow for future expansion as the county continues to grow and staffing needs increase.
With this in mind, the Board elected to build a new, purpose-built facility designed from the ground up for optimal 911 operations. The new structure will meet FEMA ICC 500 standards and include space for future expansion, ensuring that Ray County remains prepared as technology and service demands evolve.
“Finding the right site was one of the biggest hurdles,” said Jimmy Carter, Board Treasurer. The Board sought land with natural contours suitable for an earth-contact structure, as well as the necessary infrastructure: reliable access to electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, fiber-optic communication lines, and major highways. The chosen location, on the southeast corner of E. Main Street and Matt Waller Drive, meets all these requirements.
The new dispatch center will feature a partial earth-contact design that leverages the natural protection of the surrounding ground. This approach not only enhances energy efficiency but also lowers the building’s profile, reducing exposure to damaging wind and debris during major storms. The structure’s design ensures that dispatchers can continue working safely through severe weather, focusing fully on coordinating life-saving responses without concern for their own safety.
Countless hours went into planning and designing the new facility, with no detail overlooked. The Board took special care to future-proof the building, allowing for technological upgrades and expanded operations over time. As Ray County continues to grow, the floor plan already includes provisions for additional workspace and systems expansion.
Inside, the new building is designed for operational efficiency and dispatcher comfort. The layout supports a more streamlined workflow, with easier access to critical reference materials and agency information. Larger dispatch consoles will feature adjustable height settings and individual temperature controls, allowing each dispatcher to tailor their workstation for comfort. Non-glare lighting and sound-absorbing materials will reduce eye strain and background noise, improving focus and clarity during emergency calls.
Beyond serving as the 911 dispatch center, the new facility will also serve as the county’s Emergency Management Facility during major incidents, allowing all command operations to work from one central, secure location. It also includes dual redundancy systems to maintain operations in the event of utility failures. Backup generators capable of running on dual fuel sources will ensure uninterrupted power, while a secure, self-replenishing water reservoir will maintain a reliable supply in case of service disruptions.
“The new center will give our dispatchers the tools and protection they need to stay on the job through any emergency,” said Chad Burnine, Board Secretary. “It’s about continuity of service, making sure that when our community needs emergency services most, we’ll be ready.”
Since the passage of the 1% sales tax seven years ago, Ray County 911 has steadily invested in modernizing its communication systems. In 2019, the Board entered into a $2.5 million agreement with Motorola to equip local law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies with new digital radios. Once the debt service was complete, those radios were turned over to the agencies. The 911 center also implemented a new Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system, providing mobile CAD access to field responders, and adopted the ProQA system from Priority Dispatch to standardize and enhance call handling across all agencies.
These upgrades reflect the Board’s long-term goal to keep Ray County 911 on the leading edge of emergency communication technology. The new facility’s flexible infrastructure will allow it to adapt seamlessly to future system upgrades and technological advancements.
The new Ray County 911 Emergency Dispatch Center is more than just a building—it’s an investment in the safety, resilience, and future of the entire community.
“Our mission has always been to protect the people of Ray County and to support the first responders who serve them,” said Kim Davis, 911 Director. “This new facility ensures that we can continue to do that with greater efficiency, security, and reliability for many years to come.”