The White County Board of Commissioners has taken the first step toward improved fire protection for residents living on the northern end of Duncan Bridge Road.
During a called meeting Thursday morning, the board approved the purchase of property at the intersection of Sunny Circle and Duncan Bridge Road for a future fire station.
Commission Chairman Travis Turner said for several years county officials have been seeking the right piece of property to build a fire station that will meet a critical fire protection need.
The county will pay $55,000 for the 1.81 acres.
Turner said once the new fire station is constructed, it will have the potential of benefiting up to 2,096 homes with fire protection.
White County Public Safety Director David Murphy said the future fire station also will serve numerous non-residential properties.
In addition to serving more than 2,000 homes, the new station will benefit 275 industrial/commercial properties, 13 agriculture, 286 vacation rental properties, 57 public buildings including Mount Yonah Elementary School, and 33 utility-type properties, Murphy said.
A total of 2,760 property owners should be able to take advantage of lower fire insurance costs once the new station is constructed.
“We do not have the funds allocated as of yet for the construction of the fire station and we don’t have plans drawn up yet, but this a major step in a two-step process,” Turner said.
The county will use SPLOST tax dollars to make the purchase, which will close on Monday, July 18.
