Plans for new training facilities for the Morris police and fire departments are in the works thanks to a $15,000 grant from the Cawaco Resource Conservation and Development Council.

The grant proposal was a joint effort between the fire department and the police; the fire department received a $5,000 grant for new equipment from Cowaco in September, but Morris Police Chief Brian Cochran said this was the first time the police had been awarded a grant by the organization.

“We’re on the same team as far as public safety goes,” said Cochran. “We knew there was a grant opportunity available, and we had a few meetings and discussed what we needed.”

The police department currently practices on a firing range on private property, which is a field with a backdrop for safety. The officers also have the option of going to Trussville or Bessemer ranges, but the traveling distance is inconvenient. Cochran is hoping to construct a more professional training area, with level, grass-covered ground.

The Morris Fire Department, which is staffed entirely by volunteers, is planning to construct a tower designed to simulate a blazing building on the same site as the firing range. In the past, the firefighters have had to rely on the occasional donated house to practice on, but the donations were rare; the tower will allow for much more controlled burns.

“A lot of the firefighters are young and inexperienced, and the tower will be close to the real thing and let them practice much more often,” said Cochran.

Morris Mayor Craig Drummonds said Morris’ small size and tax revenue means that the town’s departments rely on grants for major projects.

“For anything additional like that, grants are essential,” said Drummonds.

Cochran said the training facilities combined cost will probably be around $40,000, so the town will also need the help of donated items and services in addition to the $15,000. The town is currently looking at two different sites where the facilities could possibly be located in the future.

The facilities will be open to any department that wants to use them.