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Resident urges caution after Huber Heights appears to seek PDAC grant for training center; city says request was a preliminary 'wish list'
Summary
A longtime resident questioned a Dayton Business Journal report that Huber Heights requested $1.5 million toward a $7.6 million regional public-safety training center; city officials said the figure appeared on a PDAC grant 'wish list' and emphasized the proposal is preliminary and would require partners and further review.
James P. Jaglovich, a Huber Heights resident and veteran, urged city leaders on Feb. 9 to reconsider pursuing a local regional public-safety training center after telling council he had seen a Dayton Business Journal report that the city requested $1.5 million in PDAC funds toward a $7.6 million facility.
"Whether it's from these taxpayers here or from the county as a whole, it coming from taxpayers," Jaglovich said, urging the council to explore using the National Center for Medical Readiness (Calamityville) in Fairborn rather than building a duplicative facility.
Mayor Jeff Gore and City Manager John responded that the PDAC entry was an early-stage grant submission — a "wish list" — not a council-approved commitment to construct a training center. "That grant application was an early step," Mayor Gore said, adding that council has not had substantive discussions about construction and that staff put a variety of possible projects on the PDAC form to seek funding.
City Manager John said staff is exploring operational needs that drive training-site requirements: live-burn proficiency and driving pads, local access when apparatus would otherwise be out of service for training, and overtime costs for sending crews off-site. John noted some partners had already been contacted and emphasized the city is in early-stage planning.
Jaglovich told the council that Calamityville, about seven miles away in Fairborn, is available for Huber Heights to use and suggested regional collaboration with Fairborn and Wright State University before committing local dollars.
Council members asked staff to provide additional information and refused to treat the PDAC entry as a final decision. Councilor Nancy said the item had not been fully discussed and urged staff to return with specifics. City staff agreed to follow up with partners and to produce more details on costs and potential partners before the council considers further action.
The city did not vote on any construction or funding commitment at the Feb. 9 meeting; staff described the PDAC submission as a preliminary step and said further council discussion would be required.
