The Peru Fire Department was officially given the go-ahead Wednesday to build a training facility on land owned by Peru Utilities.
The Peru Utilities Service Board voted 5-0 to approve the 99-year lease agreement with the PFD, whose officials would in turn pay $1. The agreement has been in the works since September 2005.
Peru Fire Chief Chris Brooks was not available for comment Wednesday, but he did make the initial request of the board in September last year. The land used will be east of the electrical substation on Canal Street.
Last year Brooks proposed the facility would be a two-story, 16-foot by 40-foot training area built out of metal shipping containers, set on a 20-foot by 60-foot concrete slab, surrounded by an 80-foot by 120-foot area of stone, which is fenced in. The building would have no foundation and could be moved if necessary at a later date.
The fire chief estimated the entire structure could be built for less than $50,000. A more permanent structure will not be built so the utility will have room to expand if necessary.
In 2005 PU General Manager Roger Merriman said the PFD having a training facility would go a long way toward improving the city's fire rating, which was lower partially because the fire department has not had a dedicated training facility. Brooks stated other county fire departments might want to use the facility as well as contribute towards its construction.
Also Wednesday, the board learned Merriman had signed a one-year agreement with the Miami County Community Garden Cooperative. The organization seeks to provide land for low-income Miami County families and retirees to grow a vegetable garden. Local food banks might be supported in the process as well.
The cooperative would provide basic information on planning and growing a garden, according to the request letter. Guidelines for those involved would be much like the sweat equity used in Habitat for Humanity and would be through the YMCA "Y Works" program.
The garden cooperative is made up of the Purdue Cooperative Extension, Master Gardeners, Miami County YMCA, local business owners, Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Peru Housing Authority.
Cooperative members had received a lot of support from local businesses, with offerings of tools, seeds, plants, power equipment, planning and work scheduling/supervising, according to the request letter. One-half to one acre just east of the Canal Street substation was requested for use.
Before proceeding, Merriman said the soil should be tested for contaminants to protect the gardeners. After tests were performed, it was determined the soil on the land being considered had "high" levels of arsenic. The people who did the testing, though, said this is somewhat typical of Miami County and the soil generally has high levels of arsenic. Off-site sampling revealed the same "high" levels.
The people who conducted the tests recommended Purdue University be consulted on how to proceed. Instead, Merriman decided to sign the agreement as the land had been used for similar gardens before.
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