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Commissioners award Fire Station 8 design contract after debate over bunkroom and community‑room scope
Summary
Spalding County commissioners approved a design contract award for a new Fire Station 8 but questioned the scope of living quarters and future staffing assumptions; staff recommended CPL Architecture based on price and references.
The Spalding County Board of Commissioners voted to award design services for Fire Station 8 to CPL Architecture during its March 3, 2025 special meeting after staff said CPL submitted the lower proposal.
Why it matters: The new station is intended to serve the county’s north side and includes a requested community/classroom space. Commissioners pressed staff to justify the number of private sleeping rooms and other design elements because those choices affect construction costs and ongoing operations.
What staff presented: A county reviewer identified CPL as providing the lower bid and cited positive references from other fire departments. In the meeting staff said CPL’s bid was $207,177 and recommended awarding the work to that firm to move from schematic design toward final construction documents.
Board discussion: One commissioner questioned the RFP specifications asking for private sleeping rooms for up to 14 people, noting the county currently staffs far fewer firefighters per shift. A county fire representative explained the rationale: individual sleeping areas can reduce disease transmission in flu and other outbreaks and can be scaled if the budget requires it. The fire representative said the county planned operational staffing at four people per shift (12 total) at the new station and that individual rooms were included to allow flexibility for future growth.
Vote and discrepancy in the record: Commissioners approved the award. The meeting transcript includes an inconsistency: staff repeatedly cited a $207,177 design bid; a motion announced on the dais referenced $2,207,177. The board vote was recorded 3 in favor, 1 opposed. The county manager and procurement staff indicated staff would finalize and clarify the contract amount before execution.
What’s next: Staff said the station-design team (including firefighters, lieutenants, captains and battalion staff) will refine aesthetics and footprint; final design renderings and a corrected contract figure will come back to the board prior to bidding construction.
