March 24--Plans to establish a regional multiagency training center moved closer to reality with the Muskogee County Firefighters Association chipping in $100,000 toward the project.
Voters approved in 2009 a capital improvements package that included funding for the training facility from a temporary 0.18 percent sales tax. The ordinance, however, required that the portion of the five-year sales tax used to construct the facility be matched dollar-for-dollar with private funds.
Efforts to secure those matching funds proved futile, so city councilors amended the ordinance in August. The move allowed Muskogee Fire Chief Derek Tatum to tap money that had accumulated and move forward with renovations of a training tower that has deteriorated since it was built in the early 1970s.
Tatum said the ability to provide firefighters and other first responders with quality training is critical to ensuring public safety. A new training facility, which will require even more money to complete, will help promote that goal.
"We are in desperate need of something," Tatum said. "We just can't go out and climb up on somebody's house for training and tear it up."
Speck Plunkett, chairman of the association that represents the 18 fire departments in Muskogee County, said the $100,000 contribution will come from revenue generated by a countywide sales tax dedicated to fire protection. In exchange, firefighters from the other 17 -- mostly rural -- departments will have access to the facility for training exercises.
"That is a pretty big deal for us," Plunkett said about the ability to use the facility once it is operational. "It allows us to have training here instead of having to schedule training with other schools."
Both Plunkett and Tatum said the ultimate goal is to establish a regional training center that will draw first responders from outside the county. Such a facility, they say, could be an economic boon for Muskogee.
In addition to the association's $100,000 donation and use agreement, Tatum was granted authorization to apply for a $234,000 grant from the Ruby Foundation to help fund second-phase work on the training center. He is awaiting word about whether an application for another grant will be approved.
"This is moving forward nicely," Tatum said about recent progress on what he said was one of the first projects he worked on after becoming chief.
Reach D.E. Smoot at (918) 684-2901 or [email protected].
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