Statesboro advances plan to finance new Fire Station 3; public hearing opened and closed

The Statesboro Mayor and Council held a public hearing Sept. 2 on a proposed multi-year installment sale agreement with Georgia Municipal Association Inc. (GMA) to finance construction of Fire Station 3 on Brandon Street. No members of the public spoke for or against the financing during the hearing.

Staff presentation: A staff member identified in the record as Pinky said the city has been planning for the station for more than a decade, purchased the Brandon Street site and estimates the project's total cost at roughly $4.8 million, which includes construction, furniture and fixtures. "We need to be, we recommend that we finance the construction of the fire station," Pinky told the council.

Financing details and timeline: Pinky explained that Georgia law limits local financing mechanisms and that the city would transfer property to GMA as part of the installment sale structure; the property would return to the city at the end of the financing term. The project will use a design-build delivery; staff said Lavender and Associates is the design-build firm and that an engineering firm is designing an adjacent short street. Staff cited a target opening of June 2026 and said construction could begin later this fall, contingent on financing.

Why it matters: Staff emphasized the city's need for an additional fire station and noted the financing approach is intended to spread the cost rather than pay cash. The hearing was informational; staff said the council will vote on the financing in two weeks.

Public response: No members of the public spoke at the hearing. Council members asked for and offered brief feedback; staff said it would return with related documents and an additional financing vehicle recommendation later in the year.