CLEVELAND – The White County Board of Commissioners has taken the first step that will lead to improved fire protection for residents living on the northern end of Duncan Bridge Road.
The board in a called meeting Thursday morning approved the purchase of property at the intersection of Sunny Circle and Duncan Bridge Road for a future fire station.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner said for several years they have been seeking the right piece of property to build a fire station that will meet a critical need as for as fire protection is concerned. Turner announced that after a long search they were able to find a property to meet that need.
The county will pay $55,000 for the 1.81 acres.
Turner said once the new fire station is constructed it will have the potential of benefiting up to 2,096 homes with fire protection.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy said the future fire station in addition to serving over 2,000 homes will benefit 275 industrial/commercial properties, 13 agriculture, 286 vacation rental properties 57 public buildings, including Mount Yonah Elementary School, and 33 utility-type properties. That’s a total of 2,760 structures where property owners should be able to take advantage of lower fire insurance costs.
The county will close on the property on Monday, July 18th, but Turner stressed “ we do not have the funds allocated as of yet for the construction of the fire station and we don’t have plans drawn up yet, but this a major step in a two-step process.”
The county will use SPLOST tax dollars to make the purchase.
