The Board of Trustees of Iowa Lakes Community College held their monthly meeting Tuesday in Emmetsburg and learned about the recently completed Regional Emergency Response Training Center.

Steve Dobbins, Fire, EMS and Health programmer, thanked the advisory committee on this project by offering their insight into the needs of area emergency services personnel.

The Regional Emergency Response Training Center was built thanks to two grants from the state of Iowa -- in 2006 and 2007. The facility is used by area firefighters and paramedics as a training facility which simulates the risks emergency personnel (such as law enforcement, medical responders and fire fighters) face in a fire.

Some of the features of the building include: a three-story tower for first responders to practice rappelling and life saving skills from a rooftop; a residential section with a varied pitch roof and the ability to practice attic ventilation during a fire. The ground floor features a single story unit that houses a larger burn room. The second story features a small burn room and movable walls so first responders may change the configuration of the facility and staircases that will help enhance fire hose skills and help first responders hone lifesaving skills.

This is one of only 11 centers in the state, with the Emmetsburg location the only one in northwest Iowa. In the future, Dobbins would like to add college credit courses in emergency training and upgrade the courses offered during the annual Regional Fire School and EMS conference. The advisory group will meet again soon to help establish future priorities for the overall training site.

In other business, the trustees passed the second and final reading of a revised board policy concerning tobacco free facilities. The college buildings have been tobacco free for many years; however the new legislation expands the coverage of prohibited smoking areas. The smoking ban affects students, visitors, faculty and staff.

A proposed contract with Sports Medicine Northwest was approved by the trustees. This is a one-year agreement that uses the services of the agency to assist student-athletes with care, rehabilitation and prevention of athletic injuries. With this service, the instructor of the athletic training program at Iowa Lakes will be able to devote more time preparing students in the college's program to become future athletic trainers.

In addition, updates on various boards and committees were given by the trustees and the College President, Dr. Harold Prior.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at the Estherville campus of Iowa Lakes.