OAK HARBOR: City seeks grant to buy training facility for first responders
Luisa Loi reports from the Oak Harbor City Council meeting of Tue., Feb. 18, 2025 for the Whidbey News-Times. Read the whole story.
Amid growing concerns surrounding the opioid and mental health crises, the city of Oak Harbor hopes to secure $1 million in state funding to purchase a building that would house a training facility for first responders in the Northern Puget Sound area.
The vacant building is located at 951 Northeast 21st Court #1 in Oak Harbor and is listed for $2.99 million, according to Realty.com. Tony Slowik, chief of the Oak Harbor Police Department, said the building became available last June and used to house Anchor Point, a shooting range previously known as Pacific Indoor Tactical.
They Said It
In a letter sent Thursday to Rep. Dave Paul, Rep. Clyde Shavers and Sen. Ron Muzzall, Mayor Ronnie Wright wrote that the North Sound Region lacks an indoor public safety training facility where first responders can practice de-escalation, patrol tactics, use of force and intervention strategies. This infrastructure could strengthen partnerships between agencies, improve emergency responses and enhance community safety, he wrote.
The mayor is asking legislators to support the city’s request for a $1 million grant, a sum that would secure the acquisition of the property, while the rest of the funding will be provided by the North Sound Region partners involved.
Council Members Barbara Armes, Eric Marshall, James Marrow and Chris Wiegenstein expressed their enthusiasm for the potential purchase, its relatively low price tag, the potential to increase safety and its potential to bring more revenue to businesses in Oak Harbor and Whidbey Island.
Council Member Bryan Stucky abstained from commenting or voting, as he stated he has a personal and professional relationship with the property owner, RGW Investments, LLC. Council member Jim Woessner, who was absent, wrote a letter explaining he was abstaining from voting as he works as an agent for Better Homes and Gardens McKenzie Realty, the brokerage firm representing the property owner. Woessner assured he did not influence any council members’ opinion on the matter and that he wouldn’t receive any commission from the transaction.
