NESQUEHONING -- An empty field on Broad Mountain in Carbon County could one day be the home of a multi-million dollar training facility for emergency responders.
County commissioners already have the building plans on paper. It's a project they say has been in the works for years.
"It's something I thought I would never see because, I go back to the finance end of it in particular, trying to find the site suitable and also the financial end because this is going to be a rather expensive project," Commissioner Wayne Nothstein said.
The training facility is expected to cost between $5 million and $10 million. Commissioners hope state and federal tax money will help cover the cost.
"It's not a case where, yes, we're going to have to increase the millage by $5 million. We don't see that at all," Commissioner William O'Gurek said.
Even though the project is going to cost a few million dollars, commissioners say the new facility will benefit a lot of people.
Gary Williams the 911 director in Carbon County says the new building would help make more space inside the 911 building.
"Moving the emergency management agency to the new building will benefit us. We'll also be able to conduct trainings at the new facility, host emergency medical dispatching, CPR classes, etc," Gary Williams said.
In Summit Hill, the police chief already has a few ideas for the building.
"We're going to look at putting in possibly an indoor range if the funds are available. A shoot house where you go in there and clear out rooms," Chief Joseph Fittos Jr. said.
County commissioners tell Newswatch 16 they still have a ways to go in securing money for the project. They hope to have it complete in the next two to four years.