WARNER ROBINS -- The Houston County Commission on Tuesday approved a project to help with infrastructure for Guardian Centers, an ambitious training facility for emergency personnel that is under construction.

The board agreed to assist the company by constructing driveways and entrance ways to the property within the right-of-way on Airport Road or Thompson Road, with the exact location to be determined later.

Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker emphasized that the county would be working only in the right-of-way of the road and would not do any work on private property.

The county had agreed to do the work as a part of an incentive package offered to Guardian Centers to get the company to agree to come to Houston County.

The company is expected to hire 100 full-time employees and many others to work part-time playing roles of residents in disaster-training scenarios.

“It’s a small price for us to pay for a company that is going to bring 100 employees and thousands of part-time employees,” said Commissioner Larry Thomson.

Construction on the Guardian Centers project began recently and is expected to take a year. A mock city will be built, including a replica of New Orleans’ 9th Ward. Thousands of emergency personnel from across the country are expected to come to Perry for training.

To contact writer Wayne Crenshaw, call 256-9725.