Eastern Shore Times

Delegate Mike Cherry has introduced a budget amendment to initiate the design phase for a new public safety and emergency operations center at Richard Bland College of William & Mary. The college, recognized as a Crime Prevention Campus by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services, currently operates from a building that was once a hay barn converted in 2008. This facility faces issues with outdated systems and lacks adequate space for daily operations.

The proposed 2,500-square-foot facility aims to address these deficiencies while enhancing campus safety. It will serve as an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to coordinate responses to emergencies such as natural disasters and security threats.

The budget amendment, Item C-52.10 #5h, proposes $2.6 million for planning and design phases. "During a visit last summer to Richard Bland College, I had the opportunity to see the campus safety building firsthand," Cherry stated. "To say it is outdated is an understatement."

RBC President Debbie Sydow praised Cherry's initiative: “Delegate Cherry cares deeply about public safety and his proactive approach to addressing a critical campus safety need at Richard Bland College is commendable.” RBC Chief Thomas Travis also expressed gratitude: “Support from the General Assembly for a new Emergency Operations Center will allow our team to better serve our students, faculty and campus visitors for decades to come.”

With this amendment, the design phase is expected to start later this year, with construction possibly beginning by 2027 and completion by 2028.