The new Carbon County Emergency Operations Training Center will be dedicated on Sept. 11 as emergency services gather to celebrate the near completion of the project, as well as honor one of their own.

On Thursday, the commissioners voted 2-1 to approve the request made by John McArdle, president of the Carbon County Fire Chiefs Association, asking for the buildings to be dedicated to commissioners’ Chairman Wayne Nothstein.

“The vision of these two facilities has finally become a reality and we applaud this board and previously serving commissioners who have been a part of this dream who made this a reality,” McArdle said. “For this we are profoundly appreciative. Some of us have dedicated a great deal of time and effort in planning and designing these facilities. This has truly been a team effort; however one individual has stood out as the leader and has overwhelmingly spent countless hours procuring the funding, contractors and permits in the process.

“Our committee has often commented and truly believe if it had not been for Wayne’s dedication and efforts, this project would never have come to fruition. ... Wayne’s abilities, efforts and pride in this project are just a few of his attributes that have aided in the design of this facility. However, it has been his passion to oversee this project from start to completion.”

Commissioners Chris Lukasevich and Rocky Ahner agreed with the request, which came from the county fire chiefs and the Emergency Training committee.

Nothstein cast the sole “no” vote, saying he wasn’t the only one who worked tirelessly on this project and felt there were others more deserving of the dedication.

“It took a great deal of people since 2008,” Nothstein said, naming contractors, firefighters, architects and other emergency responders and businesses as people responsible for making this project a reality.

“It was not just because of me. It was because of the dedication of the many people and the boards of commissioners, previous and current, that have supported this,” he said.

Nothstein, who is a longtime volunteer firefighter, thanked the fire departments for their confidence in him and for the dedication these men and women have to their communities.

Because of this, he feels this center should be a dedication to everyone.

The multimillion dollar Emergency Operations Training Center project was a long time coming, with planning beginning over a decade ago.

The project, which will include training buildings for both fire and police services, is in the Emergency Management complex on the Broad Mountain.

A 9/11 ceremony, followed by the dedication of the new buildings, will take place at 1 p.m. on Sept. 11.

Hundreds of emergency personnel are expected to attend so parking will be limited.