South Walton County Mosquito Control District breaks ground on $8M facility

SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. ( WMBB ) — The people who protect South Walton County residents from mosquitoes are getting an upgrade.

After 58 years, the South Walton County Mosquito Control District (SWCMCD) is getting an expansion.

A groundbreaking off Highway 393 Thursday marked the start of a new headquarters for the SWCMCD.

Director Darrin Dunwald said the project has been in the works for more than 3 years.

“Our building is 58 years old. It’s been flooded out numerous times, and with growth, I started here with seven people working here, and now we have 25 full time employees,” said Dunwald.

In a new project with local builders and design groups, a 10,000 square foot office and lab space will take over the lot.

“It’s approximately ten acres and we are doing very heavy earthwork, doing about four ponds, building a little bit larger than 10,000 square foot headquarters that is geared toward the entomologists, the techs and it’s very, very custom for the scientific work they do,” said Robert Dinwoody, project manager.

Dinwoody said this new headquarters should take one year to build.

After that, Dunwald said they have more plans to upgrade this facility in the future.

“Second phase would be coming and probably following after this building,” Dunwald said. “A 25,000 square foot maintenance facility with parking and new chemical room, mechanics bays and more offices back there. A facility for our drone operations.”

Both phases of the upgrade will cost $8-million dollars.

Learn more about the project and the mosquito control districts work online.

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