The Sandoval County Regional Emergency Communication Center (SCRECC) Board held a work-study session June 25 in preparation for a presentation to the Sandoval County Commission.
The board discussed the transition plan for July 1, 2025, which involves relocating the call center from its current location inside the Rio Rancho Police Department to the Sandoval County government campus in Bernalillo after Rio Rancho officials informed SCRECC members the city was breaking away last November.
“Hopefully we work out as many of the kinks as we can and come July first when we quote unquote flip the switch, it’s seamless and no one knows the difference,” said Sandoval County Fire and Rescue Chief Eric Masterson, vice-chair of the SCRECC board.
The SCRECC, which handles all 911 and nonemergency calls in the region, is currently managed and operated by Rio Rancho. Under a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) with Corrales, Sandoval County, the Town of Bernalillo and Santa Ana Pueblo, the city also serves as the fiscal agent. However, the city has expressed concerns for several years about the distribution of funding and its representation on the board of directors. The majority of calls to the SCRECC originate from Rio Rancho.
During the work-study meeting, Masterson informed the board about the initial findings that MCM Consulting Group, the firm contracted by the county to oversee the relocation, will present to the County Commission.
The MCM concept was designed by Huitt-Zollars architecture firm and includes consoles for eight dispatchers, a data room, a break room and offices for the director and assistant director. The parking lot will be secured and fenced in, with the potential for building expansion if needed.
Masterson said the SCRECC is currently collaborating with 15 agencies. The new call center will have consoles for at least five staff members per shift. These consoles will include channels for the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office, the Bernalillo Police Department, the Santa Ana Police Department, the county fire department, two call takers and a supervisor.
Currently, the JPA has a budget of $2.5 million from capital reserve. The county received $460,000 in capital outlay funding.
MCM’s proposed timeline is to enter the construction bidding process in August and start renovations in September. They anticipate that the build will take six months, with completion expected in February or March. The construction will involve setting up and operating the data room with all the necessary equipment.
According to Masterson, the county will need to start hiring people in January or February and start to test the equipment by March.
The board discussed the critical decisions that the remaining JPA members need to make, including the structure of the new SCRECC. Will it operate as a stand-alone entity similar to Valencia County, or will it follow the model of county employees, as seen in Santa Fe County? Other considerations included determining who will handle Inspection of Public Records Act requests, payroll administration and human resources responsibilities.
The board also expressed a desire for mayors and administrators from the JPA member entities to attend the next meeting to participate in decision making.
“The timeline is a very 30,000-foot timeline but that’s what the conversation is going to be,” Masterson said.