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DuComm may move to county building in Wheaton

A 911 dispatch center that serves dozens of police and fire departments in DuPage County plans to move into the county's former youth home by 2018.

DuPage Public Safety Communications, known as DuComm, is based in Glendale Heights. But county officials say the agency has outgrown its facility.

County board member Jim Healy said DuComm officials for years have tried to find a new location.

"They talked about building a new facility, but the price was astronomical," said Healy, chairman of the county's public works committee.

DuComm could meet its space and technical needs - and spend less money - by moving to the former DuPage Juvenile Detention Facility at 420 County Farm Road in Wheaton.

"It would give them state-of-the-art facilities in a new location," said Gary Grasso, chairman of the county's Emergency Telephone System Board.

Grasso, also a county board member, said DuPage would benefit because it would get a long-term tenant for the roughly 117,000-square-foot building.

The facility was closed in January 2012 when the county started sending its youth detainees to Kane County.

Most of the building is occupied by DuPage's Office of Emergency Management, DuPage ETSB and the sheriff's work release program.

A nonprofit school that was renting space moved out two years ago. Now, officials say, roughly 25,000 square feet is available.

As part of its plans, DuComm would renovate more than 16,000 square feet and construct a roughly 14,000-square-foot addition.

"It's one of those 'everybody wins' situations," Healy said. "DuComm has outgrown what they have. By coming to us, they use a building we're not using much anymore."

On Tuesday, the county board is expected to hire a firm to do architectural and engineering work related to the move. DuComm has agreed to contribute $400,000, which will help determine the cost of construction.

If DuComm and the county proceed, construction is expected to take a year to 18 months. The county also will negotiate a long-term lease agreement with DuComm.

While the lease amount hasn't been set, Grasso said DuComm will pay "market value rent" to use the building.

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