FARMINGTON — Franklin County Commissioner Gary McGrane backed off of plans to challenge vote totals that supported a new 911 dispatch center in Farmington, citing the cost of a recount.

Supporters of the dispatch center said the vote clears the way for the building to be completed before the year is out.

In the event of a recount, McGrane said, “the cost would have to be borne by the county, and I didn’t think the (other) commissioners would be in favor.”

Voters in June approved the dispatch center by a 27-vote margin, 2,062 to 2,035. Vickie Braley, of the Franklin County Commissioner’s Office, confirmed that the vote totals were certified without a formal challenge.

McGrane said he is still wary of the cost associated with a construction project, and pledged to monitor it closely. The project has an estimated cost of $598,300.

“We need to pay attention at the onset to those little things that may come up later to bite us,” he said. “We have to make sure that we don’t wind up with half a building.”

Commissioner Clyde Barker is confident that the project will come in under the estimate without a problem.

“We’ll be all right for $600,000,” he said. “The committee worked very hard on this. I give them credit, because they’ve done a tremendous job.”

Supporters of the new dispatch center have said that the current one, in the sheriff’s office, is cramped and must be moved in order to meet state requirements.

McGrane has criticized the plan as a waste of money, and instead favored renovated empty space in the county jail building, an option that was considered and rejected by other county officials.

Barker said that the bids for an architect to draft building plans have been solicited, and that he expects to review them at a meeting of the board sometime this month.

Barker said that, if everything goes smoothly, ground will be broken on the building this summer, and it will be completed before winter.

Matt Hongoltz-Hetling — 861-9287

mhhetling@centralmaine.com

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