Athens-Clarke County commissioners meet tonight for a work session. One thing lawmakers will discuss is the list of three finalist sites for a new fire station on the East side.
County officials want to relocate Fire Station 5 from its current location on Whit Davis Road to a new site, with some $6 million in SPLOST funding available for land acquisition and construction. A site selection committee created a list of three finalist locations – two on Morton Road and a third on Old Lexington Road.
None of the sites seem particularly popular, however. The highest scoring sites, the two Morton Road parcels, scored just 52 out of a possible 95 points. Comments from public input about both sites were overwhelmingly negative.
Among the concerns expressed by members of the public were the effects of new construction on the county’s greenbelt and on wildlife habitat, as well as a potential fire station’s effect on property values.
The lackluster support for the three finalist sites leaves open the possibility that commissioners might consider different sites at their voting meeting in early November.
Also on tonight’s work session is a discussion of changes to Timothy and Mitchell Bridge Roads, funded by TSPLOST money. County officials are proposing the installation of multi-use paths along portions of the two roads at a total cost of some $7.5 million.
Tonight’s work session starts at 5:30 pm at City Hall.
