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Statesboro council approves steps to finance Fire Station No. 3, schedules public hearing
Summary
The Statesboro mayor and city council voted to move forward with advertising a public hearing and related actions to finance construction of Fire Station No. 3, including a property transfer to the Georgia Municipal Association and acceptance of donated land for a street improvement tied to the project.
The Statesboro mayor and city council voted Aug. 5 to advertise a public hearing and take preliminary steps to finance construction of Fire Station No. 3, including transferring city land to the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) as part of the proposed financing arrangement.
The action matters because city staff said working with GMA will allow the city to meet the schedule for design and construction and could result in the new station opening by June 2026. Council members approved the resolutions and directed staff to advertise the required public notices before a September public hearing.
City staff explained the recommended approach at the meeting. Mr. Penn, staff member, told the council that under Georgia law the city could work with GMA to finance the new station, and that the financing mechanism would require transferring the property to GMA during the financing period. "We recommend that you proceed and schedule the public hearing," Mr. Penn said.
Officials said the property would revert to the city after the financing period ends. The council was also told that Mrs. Rocky Franklin has agreed to transfer a parcel the city needs to improve a street that will serve the new station; staff said the city will not pay Mrs. Franklin for the lot but will complete the street improvement. Mr. Penn described that conveyance as a legal step to allow the planned street work to proceed.
Council members discussed options for longer-term financing independence: staff noted the city could seek a county authority or create its own financing vehicle in the future, but recommended using GMA now to meet the project timeline. The mayor and staff said the next formal step is advertising the public hearing, expected at the council's first September meeting.
Formal actions taken: the council approved a resolution to authorize a public sale of real property and to advertise a public hearing regarding financing for Fire Station No. 3. The approval was by voice vote and was recorded as passed. No recorded roll-call tally was provided in the transcript.
Background: City staff said the financing approach will allow design, financing and construction to proceed under the timeline discussed at prior meetings. The council did not adopt final financing documents on Aug. 5; it approved only the procedural step to advertise and hold public hearings required by state law.
For follow-up: the council will consider formal financing documents and hold the advertised public hearing at the first September meeting; staff estimated the station could open in June 2026 if the schedule holds.
