Funds for a new fire station and windows in the old courthouse were approved during the Fannin County Board of Commissioners’ Tuesday, April 8, regular meeting.
Fire Station #2, which is in Mineral Bluff, will be similar to Station #5 in Epworth, Building Inspection Keith Nicholson told commissioners.
The 40-foot by 120-foot building is expected to be delivered by June 25, and the building itself costs $90,000 while labor to put it together is $69,928.
So far, the footers have been dug, and septic has been installed. The station’s lieutenant will be plumbing the building.
Other approved expenses for the station were for doors and an exhaust fan for $36,200.
Commissioner Johnny Scearce asked if a final cost had been estimated to which Nicholson said he did not.
The money is coming from Public Safety SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax).
Commission Chairman Jamie Hensley said he feels it is important to get the station built as soon as possible. A replacement for the current station in Mineral Bluff has been needed for a long time. Now, with the looming bridge construction in McCaysville, “it is even more important we get the Mineral Bluff Station up and running,” Hensley said.
He said that while bridge work is underway in McCaysville the Mineral Bluff station will be a manned station in order to make sure services to citizens on the north side of the river are not hampered.
All new windows for the old courthouse, located next door to the new courthouse and houses The Art Center, were approved for $111,978. Those funds will come out of Admin SPLOST.
The item was added to the agenda as an amendment at the beginning of the meeting.
Chairman Jamie Hensley told commissioners the windows have shown to be an issue following recent storms.
Additionally, a new Kubota tractor with a seven foot pull-behind mower was approved for purchase at $42,207.17, and the money will come out of the Public Works SPLOST.
In other action, Jackie Self was reappointed to the Fannin County Development Authority board.
Following an executive session on litigation, no action was taken.