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Council approves engineering services for Marshfield fire training center master plan
Summary
The Marshfield Common Council approved a contract to develop a master plan for a joint Marshfield Fire & Rescue and Mid-State Technical College training center, with an initial professional-services cost capped and a 50/50 funding match committed by partners.
The Marshfield Common Council on May 13 approved a professional services contract to develop a master plan for a new fire training center that the city expects to operate jointly with Mid‑State Technical College.
The council voted to authorize professional services for the development of a comprehensive training-center master plan. Robert, a Marshfield Fire & Rescue staff member who presented the proposal, told the council the plan will evaluate the existing site’s feasibility and layout training for hazardous‑materials response, confined‑space and high‑angle rescue, and other specialty rescues.
The master‑planning consultant recommended by the selection committee is Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH). Robert said SEH has experience designing fire training facilities and would follow NFPA 1402 (the standard for training facilities) in its work. He described SEH’s fixed fee as a “proposed and fixed cost not to exceed $26,007.50” for the full project scope and said the selection committee judged SEH’s combination of technical approach, experience, qualifications and fee structure to be most favorable.
Why it matters: Council members said the training center would centralize regional training and help prepare firefighters for large incidents with mutual‑aid partners. Robert described the project as “a perfect opportunity to mesh those things together and make sure that training can come together at one field ground.” He also framed the project in public‑safety terms: “That return on investment is making sure those firefighters are trained. So when someone has their worst day, we can be at our best.”
Funding and next steps: The project account is structured as a 50/50 partnership between Mid‑State Technical College and the city. Robert outlined the initial split as $25,000 from Mid‑State, $18,750 from the city’s general account and $6,250 from the EMS enterprise account. He said the presentation to the council assumes some additional grant pursuit and local fundraising to reduce the levy impact. Robert said the city’s portion to the levy at this phase would be about $18,007.50.
Council action and process: Alderman Tompkins moved approval of the contract; Alderman Varsha seconded. The motion carried on voice vote. Robert said the scope will include feasibility, classroom and storage planning, site utilities and long‑term planning to support both the Marshfield Fire Department and Mid‑State Technical College.
What remains: The contract funds design and master‑planning services; construction would follow later and require a separate design and bidding process. Robert noted the city will pursue grant funding and private contributions to limit levy impacts.
The council did not set a construction schedule at the meeting. The master plan and consultant work will provide the timeline and estimated construction costs for later council decisions.
