TOLEDO — Recommendations for the use of the former Iowa Juvenile Home/State Training School for Girls — the various buildings and the 27 acres in the middle of Toledo — are in.

State Rep. Dean Fisher recently received a copy from the Matrix Design Group, which was submitted to the Iowa Development Authority. Fisher, in turn, provided the Tama-Toledo News with a copy of the 202-page report. The Iowa Economic Development Authority contracted with the MATRIX consulting firm at a cost totaling $249,000 to survey the IJH property as well as the closed mental health institutes in Mount Pleasant and Clarinda.

The mission was to develop a course of action for their future use as well as a “tool kit” to be used in the event of future closings of other Iowa facilities.

Fisher said he also met with statehouse leaders.

“With new leadership in the governor’s office and at the Department of Human Services, I felt it was important to initiate meetings in early July to discuss the Toledo property with Gov, Reynolds and Lt. Gov. Gregg and with the new DHS Director, Jerry Foxhoven,” Fisher said in an email.

“I am confident that with the right end user or developer for the property we can count on the support of the state leadership in executing a smooth transition of ownership when the time comes.

“I will continue to be a resource to assist any and all parties that are interested in the property as I have over the past three years.”

He added, “I’ve briefly skimmed the final report from Matrix Design. They have been able to put into words and drawings many of the thoughts I’ve had about future uses for this property and then some, the property has potential for many different uses.

“The key will be finding the right party that has the financial and management resources to execute one or a combination of these plans.”

It is known the Toledo City Council endorsed a proposal to state officials by the Meskwaki Tribe to establish a Career Technical Academy using at least some of the facilities.

Hobart Restoration, the company which has purchased the former Otterbein Church in Toledo to convert into apartments, also expressed interest to the council about IJH for a combination care facility and housing.

The Reuse Plan

Some of the highlights of the Community Strategic Planning and Community Toolkit for Reuse — Facility Reuse Plan: Iowa Juvenile Home include:

• Residential home construction for the undeveloped portions of the campus and an educational institution for some of the existing buildings sums up the various reuse ideas for the property

• Alternative One is what the report declares to: “provide the greatest job growth resulting predominantly from the school administration and instructors; as an institutional/educational facility with a mix of senior housing and low density single family residential housing in keeping with past use of the property and current uses in the surrounding community.

“It proposes two new types of residential facilities — senior housing and single family residential development — includes a total of 73 single family residential lots.”

• Alternative Two is much the same as Alternative One according to the plan with more residential housing included.

• Alternative Three is “mix of residential uses and conversion of the Shop Building to a commercial use.”

Each possible reuse plan contains detailed charts and analysis of what benefits each path would provide and the associated projected expenses.

Law Enforcement Academy

Judy Bradshaw, director of the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy said in a Des Moines Register story published over the past weekend the IJH campus had been considered as a possible site for relocating the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy.

However, the former Maytag headquarters in Newton is the preference, she said. It was reported some 10,000 law enforcement personnel receive training each year at the academy. Bradshaw did not respond to a Tama-Toledo News’ email request for more information about the Toledo location.

However, Rep. Fisher said he has had contact with Bradshaw.

“I spoke with ILEA Director Bradshaw when this idea first arose over two years ago, and again recently, since the Newton idea was floated, about Toledo. The issues of tax advantage are costs as I understand them, not necessarily any difference in taxes,” he said.

“The Toledo facility, being in the middle of town, has several issues that make it unsuitable for the ILEA. First, a 100 yard firing range would not likely be proper given its location in the midst of town, and a firing range is critical to the LEA. Also, there is not sufficient space for a driving range to practice the various driving maneuvers that ILEA teaches the cadets.

“Another issue is simply the distance, Toledo is twice the drive from Camp Dodge, and the LEA shares many human and physical resources with Camp Dodge.”