The Lamar County commission unanimously approved the construction of a new fire headquarters on Roberta Drive at its regular meeting Tuesday night. The project will cost approximately $700,000. In a powerpoint display, commissioner Nancy Thrash pointed out the current SPLOST which runs through November, 2011 is projected to collect $10,488,016. Of that money, all but $325,362 is obligated. She noted that, in the vote authorizing the current SPLOST, the fire headquarters was approved. “The citizens voted for this. They said so,” Thrash said. She proposed the county take $308,804.50 already obligated for the headquarters and add the current unobligated funds plus the $68,878 generated from the sale of the old, mold-infested Grove Street station, to fund the construction of the new facility. She said approximately $703,045 is on hand for the project. She also noted commission chairman Jay Matthews had worked diligently with state officials to acquire inmate labor for the project which will result in huge savings. Labor accounts for about 40% of the total costs. A large contingent of firefighters in attendance at the meeting erupted into applause following the vote. They were joined by the citizens in the audience.
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