Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is in Blaine today breaking ground on the state's new emergency operations center. He was joined by other state leaders including the Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson and Homeland Security Emergency Management Director Kristi Rollwagen.
The governor took time to stress the importance of continuing to improve the states emergency operations capabilities. He says after seeing tragedies unfold in Maine as after an active shooter event, the project is more important than ever.
"Talking with Governor Mills this morning, certainly offering any support," said Walz. "We can have both physical support. Also the emotional support that's going to go on. Thinking of a community about the size of Mankato experiencing this type of tragedy."
The $41 million project on Pheasant Ridge Drive Northeast is funded through the 2020 and 2023 capital investment bills. The control facility will help support communities to effectively prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters.
The new building replaces an undersized facility at 445 Minnesota St., Suite 223, in St. Paul. The existing space is “wholly inadequate in the areas of security or redundancy of power, communications and network services,” the public safety department said.