Groundbreaking work begins on Estates Substation

Make way for a new Collier County Sheriff’s Office substation in Golden Gate Estates. After more than a decade of working out of a portable office building on Oil Well Road, CCSO is getting a long-awaited substation to serve the fast-growing area. With shovels digging ceremoniously into a big pile of dirt, construction officially began following a groundbreaking ceremony April 15.

“I will tell you that from the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office we’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” Sheriff Kevin Rambosk told the crowd before grabbing a shovel and joining members of the Collier County Commission in the turning of the dirt. Many of the deputies who work in the Estates and members of the CCSO command staff joined the Sheriff at the ceremony, along with Commission Chairwoman Donna Fiala, Commissioner Tim Nance, Commissioner Georgia Hiller and Commissioner Penny Taylor, and a representative from Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart’s office. Collier County government has budgeted $3 million to build an 8,960-square-foot substation adjacent to EMS Station 10 on Immokalee Road, east of the Collier County Fairgrounds.

Plans for a permanent substation were put on hold in 2005 due to the economic downturn. Since then more30 certified and civilian deputies have been working out of a 1,440-square foot portable office building and classroom at 1195 Oil Well Road in front of Corkscrew Middle School. Come January 2017, when the new building is expected to be complete, there will be interview, conference and squad rooms and housing for a mobile command unit.

Sheriff Rambosk said the new building will provide a professional atmosphere for residents to interact with law enforcement, while keeping deputies safe. “We know that when we partner with the community and we embed ourselves in the community we can make this a safer community. And we have actually done that,” the Sheriff said. He recognized deputies at the ceremony and out in the field for making Collier County one of the safest counties in Florida.

SHERIFF KEVIN RAMBOSK, SECOND FROM RIGHT, JOINS FROM LEFT, DEXTER DOWNS OF CONGRESSMAN MARIO DIAZ-BALART’S OFFICE, COLLIER COUNTY COMMISSION CHAIRWOMAN DONNA FIALA, COMMISSIONER GEORGIA HILLER, COMMISSIONER TIM NANCE, AND COMMISSIONER PENNY TAYLOR IN BREAKING GROUND ON THE NEW SUBSTATION AT AN APRIL 15 CEREMONY. Photo by Cpl. Efrain Hernandez/CCSO

“We have the lowest crime rate since 1971,” he said. “And that is a result of our men and women working together with residents, businesses and county Government.” The Sheriff thanked the County Commission, County Manager Leo Ochs and his staff, residents, and deputies for their continued support.

“Without your help and without your partnership we don’t have a safe community,” he said. Commissioner Nance, who represents the Estates on the County Commission, recalled similar fanfare at the opening of the doublewide trailer due to the need for law enforcement services in the Estates more than a decade ago.

“It’s a great accomplishment,” he said of construction beginning on the new facility. He called it a “tremendous testimony” that the majority of the County Commission turned out for the groundbreaking.

“That speaks very highly to the commitment of them personally and the Board of County Commissioners in general for the health, safety and welfare of our residents,” he said. Commissioner Nance acknowledged the deputies at the groundbreaking, saying support for the project “is long overdue.” “I don’t care what the circumstances are, what the weather is outside or anything else, when I see the men and women (deputies) in this district they always have a smile on their face,” he said. “That’s why they have such a great relationship with the people because they’re positive people carrying a good message. They’re people the citizens know and respect. ”

Commissioner Hiller said public safety has been her No. 1 priority during her six years on the board and that she was happy to finally be breaking ground on the project. Commissioner Taylor, a longtime civic leader who currently represents the City of Naples on the commission, said she was pleased the project was finally moving forward. “You’re going to have a new home for a growing area of Collier County that deserves it,” she said.

Congressman Diaz-Balart said in a statement that he is glad first responders will have space and adequate resources to perform their important work. “Sheriff Kevin Rambosk and his deputies work tirelessly to promote safe and responsible behavior across Southwest Florida,” the congressman said in his statement. “Their work goes above and beyond what’s expected and truly shows how much they care about their community.”