Pickens County breaks ground on Talking Rock fire station; county will staff facility

TALKING ROCK, Ga. — Pickens County officials and local leaders on Saturday broke ground on a new fire station in Talking Rock and said the county plans to staff the facility when it opens, adding daytime coverage to supplement the town’s volunteer firefighters.

County Commissioner Tibbets said the project is “a commitment to the safety of our well‑being, our families and the future of Talking Rock,” and announced, “For the first time, we're actually gonna have a dedicated staff member in Talking Rock manning this station.” That staff position, he said, is intended to provide quicker initial response and to allow volunteers to supplement staffing on larger calls.

The station and staffing plan drew support from local business and civic leaders. State Farm agent Marty Callahan said the new facility will improve response and local confidence, saying, “we're gonna have more response, more people, more facilities, more equipment, more revenue.” Amberley Goughford, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, said the station “is safety for the citizens. It's safety for the business community.”

Mayor James Rauch of the Town of Saucon Rock described a long history of conversations about siting a station in the area and said earlier opportunities to sell the property to the county had not come to fruition. He said municipal and county leaders “partnering” on the project will help the town as it grows.

Speakers repeatedly emphasized that volunteer firefighters remain central to local response. Commissioner Tibbets and others praised long‑time volunteers and said the staffed position would not replace volunteers but support them. Chief Keenan, identified in remarks as the volunteer chief in Talking Rock, was present and recognized at the ceremony.

Speakers also noted the risks firefighters face. A county official said the county recently lost a firefighter and asked the community to keep that family and other firefighters in their prayers; the official did not provide a name.

Contractor representatives from Galloway Construction and county public‑works staff were on site; county staff said they expect a formal grand opening next spring but did not provide a project budget, a funding breakdown, or a construction timeline at the ceremony. Speakers said public‑works staff had identified cost savings in project delivery, but specific amounts were not provided.

No formal votes, ordinances, funding approvals, or contract awards were announced at the event. The ceremony was a public milestone and a declaration of intent to staff and operate the new station once construction is complete.

Organizers said they plan a larger grand‑opening ceremony next year and will provide further details on staffing and operations as they become available.