ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – County officials on Thursday celebrated the groundbreaking for Fire Station 22 and the St. Johns County Sheriff’s North Regional Operations Center, a 20,000-square-foot facility that will house the Fire Services Department and a sheriff’s operations center in the central part of the county.
Watch the full press conference below.
“This is providing essential services to the central part of St. Johns County, providing first-responder life‑saving and property‑protection and law‑enforcement services for the entire community,” Greg Caldwell, the county’s public works director, said at the ceremony.
The station is the second building to be constructed under the county commission’s public safety expansion plan and is intended to address growing emergency-service demands in the rapidly developing area, county officials said.
“This project will result in a state‑of‑the‑art facility designed to provide the highest level of service to the residents of St. Johns County,” Chief McGee of St. Johns County Fire Rescue said. “We recognize the rapid growth in this area and the increasing demand for emergency services. This facility will help ensure that we are able to respond quickly, effectively and safely when our community calls for help.”
Sheriff Rob Hardwick said co‑locating sheriff’s staff with the fire department makes operational sense and improves response and collaboration.
“We have something special here in St. Johns County,” he said, noting that the shared location reduces the county’s property footprint and allows law enforcement and fire personnel to partner side by side.
County commissioners and staff praised the project as a public‑safety investment. Commissioner Taylor called the partnership “awesome,” and Commissioner Whitehurst called public safety the top priority of county government.
Officials thanked the project team that helped move the plan forward, including the early‑works contractors and consultants — among them Pastoral Associates, WGI, Jamari Construction, AEG (architects), and environmental consultant ECS — as well as county land management, purchasing and facilities staff.
County project manager Heather Healy was singled out for overseeing schedule, scope and budget during construction.
County leaders said the facility will serve residents of the Silverleaf area and surrounding communities for many years.