The Carmel City Council unanimously approved funding for the Hamilton County Public Safety Training Center on March 16, even after some city councilors said they felt more questions needed to be asked.
The proposed plans include a 96-acre property on River Road in Noblesville featuring a multi-story burn tower, a 20-line weapons training and qualifications range and a small building for classrooms, equipment and bathrooms.
The cost has been estimated at $3 million for the first phase and each municipality had been asked to $40,000 annually in operating costs for the training center.
Fishers, Noblesville and Westfield jumped on board, but Carmel dragged its feet because many elected officials say there were too many unanswered questions and the costs could go up at some point.
Hamilton County Councilor Rick McKinney spoke at the March 16 meeting to ask Carmel officials to vote down the proposal because he said there hasn’t been a detailed plan for the project. He said the county has, “a surplus of cash and the commissioners want to spend it,” but he doesn’t see the pressing need, especially if other current training facilities are adequate.
“I understand the want and the selling point but not the true need to spend unprecedented millions on this project,” he said.
This led Carmel City Councilor Eric Seidensticker to ask officials what is wrong with the current training centers that are being used, such as the burn tower in Wayne Township. He was told that because that facility is in a residential area there are limits to what can be done for training.
Doug Callahan, a former fire chief and current township trustee, said the township is willing to split the difference and help pay for half of the annual $40,000 costs because the training center is needed. This agreement would be written into the fire department’s contract.
City councilor Carol Schleif said she went to look up where firefighters and police currently conduct their training exercises and she found that it was scattered all over the map.
“We’re all over the place,” Schleif said. “I would love to see a comprehensive training facility for everyone.”
