DOBSON -- Surry County's emergency services director says it's time to find a new home for the county's 911 center. John Shelton also is asking county commissioners for additional staff and equipment for his department.

It went on line in 1993 and brought a vital level of service to Surry County, but Shelton says the 911 center is out of room.

“The amount of security needed to function a 911 center, and the room in which to do that, the space for the technology expansions and improvement for radio systems, it's outdated," said Shelton.

Shelton wants to move the operation to the county's former Human Services building in Mount Airy and says the $850,000 relocation would make sense.

"Most of the public safety equipment and services is in the Human Services building in Mount Airy already,” he said. “It already houses the Mount Airy Sheriff's Office, the magistrate's office, the probation office. The college houses all the emergency services training."

The current center is vulnerable to winds topping 100 mph, but Shelton says the Human Services building is outfitted to handle twice that, providing an extra measure of comfort.

"This building doesn't have brick or anything so that building may be more structurally sound," said Stephanie Conner, director of communications.

The proposal would keep pace with the growth in population and demand, adding another advanced life support ambulance and crew.

"Since 1999 when we added the last EMS crew, we've grown by 10,000 calls," Shelton said.

He's considering quick response units for treatment only in outlying areas including the Shoals and Lowgap communities.

"Most of those areas will take as much as 20 to 30 minutes to get on scene,” said Shelton. “We've seen the need with the growth in both those communities that we need to better respond."

There's been a steady increase countywide in the incidence of medical conditions including obesity, diabetes, strokes and drug abuse. Shelton said the improvements to the 911 operation and emergency response were essential.

"It's a time that we need to increase the services that we provide," he said.

Shelton said a large portion of the cost to move the 911 center would be covered by a subsidy from a 911 surcharge. County commissioners will take up his proposals as they piece together the county's 2015-2016 budget.