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Council approves purchase of 14.6 acres for new fire training facility, not to exceed $1.375 million
Summary
The council approved purchase of a 14.6-acre tract at 3150 Robertson Road for a future fire-training facility, authorized up to $1.375 million from half‑cent sales tax proceeds, and ratified execution of closing documents; design and construction are projected for 2026–2028.
The City Council on April 9 approved purchase of a 14.6‑acre tract at 3150 Robertson Road for $1,275,000 and authorized the city manager to complete closing documents with an authorization not to exceed $1,375,000 under the half‑cent sales tax fund for a planned fire training facility.
Chief (Tyler Fire Department) outlined the project’s purpose: replace the city’s existing training facility with a purpose‑built, engineered training site for firefighter recruit training, live‑fire and rescue operations, and collaboration with Tyler ISD and Tyler Junior College (TJC) programs. The proposed property sits between the Career and Technical Center (CTC) and TJC West, offering proximity for shared training.
The chief said the current training site was largely built by firefighters and lacks full engineering and safety features; the new site would be designed by an architect and constructed in phases with design targeted for 2026–2027 and construction in 2027–2028. The project is funded from the half‑cent sales tax; the chief said there is community support from Tyler ISD and TJC. The council approved the purchase by motion and voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded on the transcript.
The chief also noted potential for mutual‑aid partners to train on the site under negotiated terms and that the city may seek cost‑sharing for use by other jurisdictions. The council directed staff to proceed with acquisition and planning.
