JACKSON, Tenn.- Monday night the Madison county commission voted to request the deed to the former
West Middle School building from the Jackson-Madison County School Board.
Currently the property is still deemed to be in the control of the Local
Education Authority.  The school board will have to decide if the building
has future education facility purpose.
If the school board agrees, the commission will vote on making the
building a training facility for police, fire officials, and first
responders.

The motion comes at the request of Madison County Sheriff John Mehr.  

Mehr spoke in favor of the training facility said it would bring in
thousands of people to the area.  Commissioner Doug Stephenson said the
county could see millions of dollars in tour and travel revenue.  The
training center would attract first responders from around the area and
adjoining states.

The facility is near the future home of the Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation lab, McKellar Sipes Regional Airport and Interstate 40.

Commissioner Savannah Williamson, who represents the Denmark area was not
convinced of the plans benefits. Williamson said there are residents in the
area that are against the idea of a law enforcement training center in
their backyard. Williamson wanted to know why in today's racial climate
would the sheriff and the commission wanted to put the training facility in
a predominantly black neighborhood.

When Williamson was asked why he would want an empty, abandon building in
his district he said he had envisioned other uses including a Boys and
Girls Club at the former school.