Meridian looks to build new classroom at training facility as use rises

Published 2:47 pm Wednesday, January 21, 2026

The city of Meridian is looking to build a new classroom at its public safety training facility as use of the facility has increased significantly over the past six months.

The City Council on Tuesday announced a notice to begin advertising the project for contractors to submit sealed bids.

In a work session last week, Public Safety Director Greg Morgan explained the new classroom will replace an older building out at the training facility’s two shooting ranges. The current space is very outdated, he said, and isn’t suitable for the facility’s current needs.

Once complete, the new classroom space will both free up two additional classrooms at the training facility’s main building, as well as provide an area for trainees to clean/maintain their firearms without having to travel back and forth between the main building and the range.

Morgan said work is also ongoing at the facility’s shooting ranges to update them as well.

Shortly after taking over as Public Safety Director in July, Morgan said a priority for him was to revitalize the training facility and expand training opportunities for both local emergency officials and others throughout the state and region. The facility hosts classes for law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders, as well as in-house training for Meridian police and fire departments.

Morgan said the facility currently sees about 500-600 people per month attend classes.

The City Council also voted in its Tuesday meeting to authorize applying for a Federal Railroad Administration Grant to reinstate an Amtrak Safety Program at the Meridian Public Safety Training Facility. Chief Administrative Officer Craig Hitt said bringing the program to Meridian will require updating the course curriculum, replacing train cars at the facility and other work at an estimated cost of $1.6 million.

If successful, Hitt said Meridian would be the second training facility offering the course in the nation.

Also going out for bids is an abatement project at the Old Meridian Police Station located across from City Hall. The building, which was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2015, has sat empty since the law enforcement agency relocated to its current location on 22nd Avenue in 2013. While the city has courted several potential buyers for the property, all such ventures have fallen through.

In early 2024, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History rejected a request from city officials to strip the building of its landmark status, which would have cleared the way for the building to be demolished. A Fall 2023 inspection of the building found signs of potential structural damage as well as mold and rotting due to water damage.

Mayor Percy Bland said the city has already received approval from the Department of Archives and History for the abatement work.