Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Memorandum
TO: Mayor and Councilors DATE: 04/09/2013
THRU: Isaiah Hugley, City Manager
FROM: David Arrington, Deputy City Manager SUBJECT: Public Safety Training
Center
In November 2012, the City was notified by Mr. Tim Beardon, Director of the
Georgia Public Safety Training Center of the need for a new location for the
Regional Police Academy. The Regional Academy is currently located in
facilities on the campus of Columbus State University. The Columbus State
facilities are one of only two Regional Academies where the State is required
to pay rent. Mr. Beardon advised if a new location could not be found in
Columbus, the Regional Academy may be relocated outside of Columbus. The
Regional Academy is where all Columbus Police Officers receive their mandate
training to become certified police officers. The Cobis Rehabilitation Center
located on the Muscogee Manor property on Schatulga Road was mentioned as a
possible site for the new facility. The location of the Regional Academy in
Columbus results in a significant savings for the City.
In addition to relocating the Regional Academy, Mr. Beardon also advised there
might be an opportunity to develop a regional fire training facility on the
site. As you recall, this discussion resulted in the delay of the staff?s
recommendation to purchase property on Macon Road to relocate Station 9 and the
Fire/EMS Training facilities. At your direction, Amy Carbajal and I have been
researching opportunities in Columbus to relocate the Regional Academy.
I spoke to Mr. Beardon today and he advised the Public Safety Training Center
has agreed to contract with Columbus State University to relocate the Regional
Police Academy to the vacant Army Reserve Center on Macon Road. You may recall
this is the facility that was surplused by the Federal Government due to
BRAC. The City acted as the Local Redevelopment Agency in the process and
Columbus State University was awarded the facility specifically for the purpose
of relocating the Regional Police Academy. Columbus State closed on the
property last month and is looking for the facility to be occupied by fall
2013. The Public Safety Training Center was initially reluctant to relocate
to the facility due to the cost of renovations and possible increase in rent
payments. It is my understanding from staff at the Public Safety Training
Center that Columbus State has agreed to renovate the facility to meet the
needs of the Regional Academy and to keep their rent at the current rate.
Several officials from the Public Safety Training Center toured the Army
Reserve Center last week. The location provides more square footage than their
current facility and will adequately accommodate their training programs.
This has apparently satisfied the short term needs for the Regional Academy.
According to Public Safety Training Center staff they would still like to work
with the City on developing a joint use Emergency Vehicle Operations Course.
The course would require approximately 10 acres of land and funding for
developing the site. They would also like to continue to look for a long term
solution to a permanent location in Columbus for the Regional Academy that
would either be at no cost or a reduced cost to their current agreement with
Columbus State University.
The purchase of property for the relocation of Station 9 and the Fire/EMS
training facilities was delayed to see if the fire training facilities could be
a part of the Regional Academy site. The concept mentioned by Mr. Beardon was
that a regional fire training center could be developed on the site. The
Fire/EMS Department has a daily need for training facilities to meet the ISO
training requirements. Sharing training facilities with other regional
departments could have a negative impact on the department?s ability to meet
the mandated training requirements. Chief Meyer contacted Dave Wall at the
Georgia Fire Academy to discuss any plans for a regional fire training
facility. Mr. Wall advised they had no plans to develop regional centers.
Based on this information I would recommend the City move forward with
addressing our critical needs to relocate Station 9 and the Fire/EMS Training
facilities by purchasing the property on Macon Road. Construction of the new
station could begin before the end of the year if the property is acquired in
the near future.
If you have any questions concerning this information please let me know.
Cc: Isaiah Hugley, City Manager
Jeff Meyer, Fire/EMS Chief
Amy Carbajal, Community Reinvestment Director
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