County's $20M Public Safety Training Facility Could Open Next Year

At the Chester County Commissioners sunshine meeting Tuesday, the county came $600,000 closer to opening a training facility where police, firefighters and other emergency responders can practice joint responses.

Brandywine Health Foundation pledged $400,000, and another $200,000 to be dispersed over five years. Construction will cost $20 million overall, and the county is still looking to raise $2.9 million in grants and donations.

"What's important about what we're doing here, with everyone's help in the county, is we're now going to have a safe and efficient emergency response operation. All the disciplines are going to train together, which doesn't happen now," said Pat Davis, Deputy Director of Law Enforcement Services.

"This is a project which will bring emegency service in Chester County to the level needed by our growing community," said Harry Lewis Jr., chairman of the foundation board.

All neighboring counties have their own facilities, and the new center will cut the expense of traveling to other counties for training.

"We're going to have more realistic props, simulating fires and smoke. More importantly, we're going to be able to practice unified command," Davis said.

The planned training facility will be built on 130 acres of county-owned land in South Coatesville. Work will begin in November and the first classes will be held by October 2012.

Expenditure of the Month:

On Wednesday, the commissioners approved $38,433 for historic carpet replacement in Hibernia Mansion. (Previous meeting: $49,132 for .)