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Commission hears options for emergency equipment storage; AMPI building viewed as short‑term site
Summary
Marion County staff briefed commissioners on short‑term and longer‑term options to store emergency management equipment, including command trailers, generators and a regional portable communications tower that cannot currently be raised due to a malfunction.
Marion County staff briefed commissioners on short‑term and longer‑term options to store emergency management equipment, including command trailers, generators and a regional portable communications tower that the county took possession of years ago but cannot raise because of a current malfunction.
Why it matters: secure, accessible storage affects the county’s ability to deploy regional assets in an emergency. Staff said the county’s current leased storage is secure but that an AMPI building under discussion would be a short‑term solution requiring building and site work.
What staff described
- Equipment inventory: Staff listed items needing storage — a light trailer, large generators, a command trailer and a dually pickup that carries a portable communications tower described as a regional homeland‑security asset. The tower currently has a malfunction and cannot be raised.
- Short‑term AMPI building option: The AMPI building could be used as a temporary site but would require work: replacing garage doors and openers, minor electrical upgrades inside, lot improvements to replace a narrow gravel access and a ramp, and establishing clear access controls for county assets. Staff said the building would still likely be cheaper than the county’s current arrangements for the expected short occupancy period.
- Lease and access questions: Commissioners and staff flagged the need to resolve who would have access to the building, how to secure the area and how long the site would be available because the AMPI building is slated for demolition for a future fire station project.
- Next steps: Staff asked to discuss lease details and negotiate terms in executive session and then return to open session with recommendations and contract language.
Ending
No lease was approved at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to negotiate contract terms and to return to the board with recommendations and more precise cost/repair estimates.
