At least three members of the White County Commission will visit a fire station in Banks County on Thursday.
The commissioners arranged to tour Banks County Fire Station 41 in Baldwin. It is Banks County’s newest fire station, and it was suggested that they examine it for a possible project in White County.
This past March, White County commissioners voted to find out what it would cost to build a new fire station on the northern end of Duncan Bridge Road. Commissioners approved obtaining civil engineering and design plans for a three-bay Fire Station 9, with sleeping quarters for both male and female fire personnel.
White County Commission Chairman Travis Turner says he feels it’s advantageous to them and the county to explore this facility.
“You can kind of see boots on the ground, per se, how the building’s built. You can see and ask our surrounding counties what worked for you. What would you do different? And learn from their experiences,” Turner says. “I think that’s wise of us to do that. I see opportunities, especially as our county’s growing. We’ve just got to be more. We got to be wise with how we’re using our time and resources and our funds.”
Turner says they want to see if the Banks County fire station design is appropriate for White County and whether that type of building will sit well on the property. The commissioners are also expected to consult with Banks County officials about the cost and how they handled the project.
The White County Commission has had this project in its sight since 2022, when the board approved the purchase of 1.81 acres of land at the corner of Sonnys Circle, Duncan Bridge Road, and Starlight Drive to build a fire station.
According to discussions at the time, a study conducted several years ago determined that the area has inadequate fire protection. The study said a new fire station in the area would service over 2,700 properties, mostly residential.
Turner says he hopes to award the project by this fall but emphasized, “we are not there yet.”
