Plans are proceeding on a new fire training facility

Decorah Fire Chief Mike Ashbacher told county supervisors Tuesday that plans are moving along for a new fire training facility on Old Stage Road on property owned by the county.

Supervisors have asked County Attorney Andy Van Der Maaten to draw up a lease for the property.  Ashbacher assured county officials, "We want it to look nice."  He says the facility would be used to train emergency response crews, using a grain bin, an anhydrous ammonia tank, power line poles and temporary buildings constructed from shipping containers.

Supervisor John Beard agreed "with a volunteer force, training is important," while supervisor Floyd Ashbacher said, "training is a key to a lot of things."

The facility would be built on property south of the county's highway department buildings on Old Stage Road.