The County Commissioners for Tippecanoe County, Indiana, have grown concerned about the county's Emergency Management vehicles. Tippecanoe County Commissioner David Byers says that the county's emergency equipment is currently stored in five different locations, some of which do not even have covered garages. Some of the emergency equipment is currently in a warehouse next to the county jail, while other items have been left in uncovered outdoor trailers. Tippecanoe County has more than $5 million in equipment scattered in different locations. The County Commissioners would like to find one central location at which to store the vehicles.
"Let's take the Sheriff's Department, for example," explained Byers. "Probably a half to a third of their garage is full of TEMA equipment. By us moving the equipment out that allows them more space to get their cars inside. You take the building out there at the Wildcat Creek facility that's full of TEMA equipment, you move that out, that gives Community Corrections a chance to move their equipment in there, so that opens up space," he said.
TEMA is an acronym referring to the Tippecanoe County Emergency Management Agency. TEMA maintains equipment that might be needed in an emergency. It also maintains and activates the emergency warning siren system in the county, and participates in several Homeland Security projects. TEMA's equipment includes tools that might be needed in the event of a hazardous materials spill. TEMA also has a local and regional response unit, including paid staff and volunteers. In addition to offering emergency response equipment for any event that might occur within Tippecanoe County itself, the TEMA team also stands prepared to assist in emergencies that might occur in neighboring counties.
The Commissioners have identified a location on Swisher Road, in West Lafayette, Indiana, that they are considering. Byers estimated that it would cost the county $81,000 per year to lease the space that is currently under consideration. The space includes five acres and two buildings. It would cost the county $6,750 per month for the first year, and $6,850 per month for the second year. The money to lease the space will come from the Economic Development Income Tax fund. Later, the county could choose to buy the land on which the storage site is located.
The advantage of the Swisher Road space, according to Byers, is that it has room to be used for more than just TEMA equipment. It can house all the TEMA equipment and still have room left for highway graders and gravel, the van used by the Weights and Measures Department, and some additional office and storage space. Highway Director Opal Kuhl said that storing extra salt and sand at the Swisher Road facility would make the job of highway crews in severe weather a little easier. "If the weather's real bad, it's simpler...to come to a site on the north end to get materials rather than go all the way to the garage," she commented.
The County Council will discuss the lease at its regular meeting on January 12. On January 19, residents of Tippecanoe County can offer their opinions at a 10 a.m. meeting. Both meetings will take place at the Tippecanoe County Office Building, located at 629 N. 6th Street in Lafayette.