Athens-Clarke County Commissioners voted down a list of three candidate sites for a new East Side fire station.
All three of the finalist locations – two on Morton Road and one on Old Lexington Road – proved to be unpopular with nearby residents, who turned out at several meetings to express their displeasure with the proposed sites.
While fire officials have said that the three sites are best equipped to cover service gaps in the southeastern part of the county, some residents opposed the proposed locations, citing worries about noise and pollution.
Commissioners voted unanimously to essentially restart the site selection process.
Commissioners also voted 9-0, with one abstention, to extend a moratorium on new short-term rentals until February.
