The Fayette County Commission got its first look at architectural renderings for the new fire station that will serve the Tyrone area.
The fire station is being moved to the intersection of Ga. Highway 74 north at Jenkins Road adjacent to a church and also the local school complex, officials have said.
The new station will replace the current fire station in downtown Tyrone which has had significant problems with its septic system in recent years. The new station, however, will be connected to the town’s limited sewer system.
The plan is for the new facility to be open in October of next year. County fire officials are planning to present the architectural drawings to the Tyrone Town Council at an upcoming meeting.
The design of the new station is a departure from the county’s most recent fire stations because it puts all the living quarters on one side, allowing for expansion of the living area and/or the equipment bays in the future if its is deemed necessary, said Fire Chief Tom Bartlett.
The station will have a backup power generator, room for a future fuel tank and an area set aside for a community garden.
The station will front on Jenkins Road, allowing fire trucks and ambulances to go north or south on Hwy. 74 at the traffic light.
The 6.6 acre site will also have room for a new water tower that is planned for the future, officials said.
It is expected that construction will take about 300 days from start to finish, officials noted. Bartlett added that town officials have agreed to allow the county to use its in-house resources for all plan review and building inspections, which the county otherwise would had to have paid the town for.
The station will accommodate a future crew size of 10 before it is necessary to expand, Bartlett added.
The new station “will meet the long term needs of the community for many years to come,” according to Public Safety Director Allen McCullough.
“This location allows for quick access to all the assigned response areas, is close to the school complex and will add to the Town of Tyrone in its design, construction materials and architecture,” McCullough said.
