City nixes Three I lease

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
June 18, 2003
Meridian will take over operations of the emergency training center on Sand Flat Road leaving Three I Public Safety Inc. with no more responsibilities there.
City councilmen voted Tuesday to terminate its lease with Three I and take back control of the fire, police and railroad disaster training center. The termination will take effect in 60 days.
Meridian city officials said they could now receive federal funds for the center without the help of the nonprofit Three I which has been operating the center since 2001.
Tuesday's move leaves the future of Three I uncertain.
Three I has been operating the regional training center in Meridian that helps prepare firefighters, law enforcement officers and other emergency personnel in handling disaster or emergency situations.
Bill Scaggs, chairman of the board of directors of Three I, said today he didn't know the city was planning to take back control of the center and was surprised by the action.
Scaggs said he didn't know what would happen next to his organization.
Smith told councilmen that he, too, didn't know what the future holds for Three I. He did say he expected the organization to remain an entity.
Smith said the role of Three I was no longer needed with the training center because, with the increased national emphasis on homeland security, the city will be able to compete for grant money itself.
IN OTHER MATTERS
The Meridian City Council also took the following action at its Tuesday regular meeting:
Voted Ward 3 Councilman Barbara Henson as its new council president and Ward 5 Councilman Bobby Smith as its new vice president.
Rescinded a previous ordinance which had re-zoned parts of city-owned property near the Long Creek reservoir from a public use district to a regional business district. The land had been re-zoned business to accommodate a now-abandoned Cooper Development Inc. project.