Bulloch County approves $1.75M real estate contract for consolidated Fire Station 13 after heated debate
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Summary
After extended public comment and commissioner questions about cost, alternatives and funding, the Bulloch County commission approved 4–2 a sales contract to buy a 5-acre site and 10,000 sq ft building near I‑16 for a consolidated Fire Station 13 and training center; staff added an appraisal contingency and said financing would be via a 10‑year lease‑purchase and SPLOST.
Chairman David Bennett said the county must improve fire protection and training capacity as population and development expand, and presented a plan to buy a 5‑acre industrial site with a roughly 10,000‑square‑foot building for use as the county’s consolidated Fire Station 13 and a training/logistics center. Bennett said the purchase would both reduce duplication with a nearby registered volunteer station and extend ISO coverage to areas currently rated ISO‑10, which can lower home insurance costs for affected residents.
Public commenters pressed the county for more transparency and questioned the need for the purchase. Cassandra Michael asked how the $1.75 million purchase would be funded and what additional costs — construction, apparatus, staffing, utilities and long‑term operations — would be required, and urged commissioners to delay the vote. Carrie Borgman, who works in public safety, called $1.75 million “a lot of money” for five acres close to the interstate and suggested the development authority or other county‑owned property be considered as lower‑cost alternatives. Lawton Laudensack presented maps and argued the proposal would add limited new coverage and could duplicate existing services.
Staff and consultants defended the site and the timing. County staff described the property’s existing infrastructure — thick concrete and multiple large bays suitable for heavy apparatus — and emphasized that the site would also serve as a consolidated training center, addressing current limits on training space. Finance staff said the county had discussed a 10‑year lease‑purchase through a conduit and expected to cover annual debt service through SPLOST revenues and fire tax receipts associated with industrial occupants. County Attorney Jeff Akins said a revised purchase contract includes an appraisal contingency allowing the county to cancel if the appraisal comes back more than 10% below the agreed price.
Commissioners debated timing and alternatives. Some commissioners said waiting risked losing the property to another buyer; others asked for more documentation, a clearer accounting of total costs and time to consult with the development authority about donating or offering alternate county‑owned land. Commissioner Ray Davis said tabling creates risk if the owner is unwilling to hold the property. Commissioner Nick Newkirk and another commissioner pushed to include operational steps (slab, relocation) once financing is cleared.
The commission voted to approve the real estate sales contract 4–2. The contract approved at the meeting was the real estate sales contract; any financing (lease‑purchase) and related debt documents will require a separate public hearing and vote. The contract includes the appraisal contingency described by the county attorney. Next steps identified by staff include completing a Phase I environmental assessment, obtaining title insurance and returning for all financing approvals and required public hearings.