Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council adopted a resolution stating its interest in having a proposed Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Public Safety Academy located in Sweet Home.
The agency is soliciting various jurisdictions in the state for letters of interest in siting a new facility. The City of Sweet Home identified the Willamette Industries property at the north end of 24th Avenue.
Willamette Industries is preparing a proposal for the state’s consideration, Willamette Property Administrator Jody Esperanza said. The opportunity was brought to Willamette’s attention by City Manager Craig Martin. Willamette has no manufacturing use for the proposal interested the forest products company. A proposal from Willamette will “see if there is any interest in the state looking at our site.”
The council’s resolution supports the siting of the new DPSST Academy in Sweet Home. The city council included a provision in its resolution that it did not want the proposed facility to compete with other economic development opportunities. The council approved the resolution on Aug. 22 during its regular meeting.
It looked like something that would have a positive economic benefit for the area, Martin said. It would provide jobs and commerce.
The training facility would be used for law enforcement, fire and security training. The 1999 Legislature directed DPSST to develop a facilities plan to meet its strategic business plan and to fully implement the 16-week basic police training course in the 2001-03 biennium.
The current classroom and training space is limited, according to the agency’s request for proposals. It can only provide 10-week courses.
The new facility would require approximately 165 acres with 25 acres devoted to lodging, classrooms, parking and administration buildings, with 140 acres for outside skill development facilities, such as an emergency vehicle operation area, a firing range, drafting pit, hazardous materials training area, extrications area, water rescue area, fire tower and burn buildings.
Specifics for the project and phasing would be site-specific. Community interest, partnering opportunities and utility and building costs are a few of the issues that will determine where the facility will be located and how the facility will be built.
The state will screen proposals in terms of suitable locations and community support. The second phase will involve solicitation of more detailed site information from finalists. Should no sites meet the necessary criteria, DPSST will cancel the process and make contact with owners of unsolicited sites.
The timeline for the project calls for completion of siting and design by March and budget development, approval and funding by June, with construction and the move complete by March 2004.
Martin told the city council that many communities were pursuing the development, and there would be strong competition for the new facility.