Marion County confirms county-owned fire training center and seeks state and private funding

Marion County staff said the planned fire training center is county-owned, will be operated by Marion County and will be available to all county fire departments, and that county leaders are pursuing state and private funding to build and operate the facility.

"It is indeed ... a county owned facility. It is owned by Marion County, operated by Marion County," a county staff member said. The staff member said the county provided the land, and that officials are seeking state funding and some private funding to finance the project. The transcript indicates the facility is intended for use by all county fire departments rather than owned by a single department.

During the same exchange staff referenced coordination with the county's resurfacing director and with Bobby Page regarding nearby road work. The resurfacing discussion included a plan to obtain millings from contractors for pothole repair and resurfacing, which staff said would speed repairs near the training center and elsewhere in the county.

No contractual awards or funding commitments were recorded in the excerpt; staff said they are continuing to pursue state and private funding sources and will provide additional updates as they become available.