THUNDER BAY -- The board of directors for the local Fire Training Centre could have the rug pulled out from under them Monday night.
The centre owes the city more than half a million dollars. The staff report recommends the debt be forgiven, but only if the board hands over the title and responsibility for the training centre to the city.
The fire tower and training facility opened on Hammond Avenue in June of 2009, after years of planning and securing millions of dollars in funding. The President of the Protective and Emergency Services Training Corporation, Larry Price, appeared before city council in February.
At that time, several council members were concerned about the training centre's annual operating deficit.
Price was asking the city to forgive a $572,000 loan for the centre's construction, and also provide them with another $625,000 to build an indoor shooting range.
But city staff now say the request for the shooting range should be declined, and they recommend the city assume full responsibility for all aspects of management and operation of the training centre.
In a telephone interview with Thunder Bay Television Friday, Price said the board is in "shock mode," and they held an emergency meeting this week to deal with the situation.
He added that they're asking for the matter to be deferred until they've had a chance to discuss things further with city officials.
(Thunder Bay Television)
