Troup County authorizes bids to renovate Mountville Fire Station No. 9

The Troup County Board of Commissioners on March 3 authorized county staff to solicit bids to renovate Mountville Fire Station No. 9 and to gather cost estimates for repairs at other volunteer stations.

Public Safety Director Zack Steele told commissioners the county plans to use proceeds from recent property sales of older stations to fund the project. Steele said placing more resources at Station 9 would improve coverage in an area currently split between Station 1 (Hamilton Road) and Station 6 (Whitfield Road). "The growth in the call volume in that area, 83% roughly, is medical rescue in nature," Steele said, noting recent increases in both medical and fire calls. Jay, a fire division chief, said staff will prepare the scope of work and post bid specifications themselves rather than hire an architect, adding, "There's no cost to the county to do what we're doing" before bids are received.

Commissioners asked about the likely cost and whether work could be packaged across stations. A commissioner referenced a prior estimate of up to $150,000 for exterior work; staff said the proceeds from the two property sales should cover the exterior replacement and allow for interior renovations to the living area. Steele and staff also said they would produce updated maps and a deployment analysis to confirm optimal station placement and to consider impacts if Station 1 is relocated in the future.

After discussion the board moved and approved a motion authorizing Zach and Jay to solicit bids for Station 9 and to return with cost estimates for other volunteer stations. The motion carried without a recorded roll-call tally.