Public-safety panel weighs National Guard armory as emergency operations center; veterans press for building

Hickman County public-safety committee members spent more than two hours debating whether to pursue purchase of the former National Guard armory as a county Emergency Operations Center and community shelter while veterans urged the county to transfer the building for use as a veterans center and museum.

The discussion centered on two competing proposals: Emergency Management Agency director Pete Tibbs and county staff proposed using CDBG-DR disaster recovery funds already earmarked for the county to buy the armory for an EOC, sheltering and a training center; representatives of local veterans organizations — including American Legion and VFW leaders — sought county backing to secure the same building for museum space, meeting rooms and veterans services.

County officials said the grant pool available to Hickman County is about $1.9 million and that the armory’s listed purchase price from the state/military was discussed at roughly $1.4 million, with a potential county-related discount of about $60,000 mentioned during the meeting. Tibbs said the armory’s larger footprint and basement kitchen could allow the county to shelter dozens or more people during a disaster and provide training space that, he said, could lower fire departments’ ISO ratings and reduce insurance costs for residents and businesses.

Veterans’ representatives framed their request in personal and community terms. Phil Feddy, post commander of American Legion Post 36, described the groups’ community work, emergency-response support and the need for private office space for the county’s Veterans Service Officer. Rob, a local veterans organization leader who identified himself as a former American Legion commander and current senior vice commander of the VFW, said the veterans have memorabilia and exhibit material they want to display and manage in a local museum if a suitable building is available.

Commissioners and staff pressed for details before committing county funds or a formal transfer. Committee members repeatedly asked for a written cost analysis: expected annual utilities and maintenance, likely HVAC or roof replacements, and a timeline for any work. Several members also asked whether the building and proposed uses meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements; EMA representatives said they have the armory blueprints and that at least some accessible entrances and accessible restrooms exist but that they had not yet completed a full ADA compliance cost estimate.

To preserve options while staff compiled missing details, the committee passed a motion (roll call 12–2) directing the EMA director to return to the committee next month with a written report that includes maintenance and annual operating cost estimates, any expected renovation needs (including ADA-related work), and the feasibility of offsetting utility costs (for example, adding solar). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Dustin Jordan and carried on a roll call vote. The committee emphasized that authorizing the EMA to prepare a grant application does not obligate the county to purchase the building; that decision would be made separately by the full county court.

Committee members also discussed whether veterans groups and EMA operations could coexist in the same building if the county were to acquire it. Tibbs said some uses — such as long-term museum exhibits located in the building’s upper floor — might conflict with sheltering or MAC/JIC (multi-agency coordination/joint information center) functions during a major disaster. He told commissioners the CDBG-DR funds the county could request are intended for disaster recovery and eligible projects must meet sheltering, flood mitigation or related criteria. He said that purchase of the armory for EOC/sheltering use would meet those criteria, but that renovation costs beyond acquisition would not necessarily be covered by the DR funding.

The meeting record shows active outreach to state and federal partners: staff said they had discussed transfer/donation processes with National Guard representatives and the state procurement office and had been told the property was being sold rather than donated. April, the 9‑1‑1 director, and others said a property survey and signature would be required before any conveyance could proceed. Tibbs noted the state fire marshal would need to review plans for any interior renovations.

Because the committee asked for additional financial and compliance detail, Tibbs will prepare and present cost estimates, an ADA-compliance summary and the draft grant narrative at the next public-safety committee meeting. The committee vote gives Tibbs permission to pursue preparing the application and to return with the requested information; it does not commit the commission to accept a grant award or to purchase the armory.

Quotes used in this report come from meeting remarks by Pete Tibbs (Emergency Management Agency director), Phil Feddy (American Legion Post 36 post commander) and Rob (local veterans organization leader), as recorded in the public meeting transcript.

The committee also heard repeated statements of support for veterans’ programs and their role in community disaster response; multiple commissioners urged staff to explore options that could allow shared use or an alternative property for veterans if the armory becomes the county EOC. The matter will return to the committee for a detailed cost and compliance briefing before any final county-court action.