In a move to bolster the city's public safety infrastructure, Woodstock City Council has given the green light to construct two additional fire stations. The unanimous decision, heralding one of the largest investments in fire response and safety needs in the city's history, was reached during Monday's regular meeting. According to the city's announcement, there has been a discussion on this expansion for several years with detailed plans for not only the stations themselves but also for staffing and equipment to ensure cost-effectiveness and efficiency across Woodstock's Fire Department.
Shane Dobson, Woodstock's Fire Chief, noted in the city council meeting that the department’s personnel strategy would utilize the 12 new firefighters to support all four stations. An existing reserve fire truck will be refurbished, further mitigating expenditures. The financing plan presented by City Manager Jeff Moon suggests leveraging over a million dollars available in SPLOST IV and re-allocating impact fees to cushion the city's finances. His statement underscored the strength of Woodstock's bond rating: “If anyone ever asks you why the city council went to the trouble to raise the city’s bond rating, look at the public offering, 15 years premium discount so people buying the bonds are going to write you a check just to buy your bonds.”
Discussion at the council meeting covered a range of variables, including increased costs of materials and labor as well as the city's economic and population growth. Council Member Wolfe, bringing 28 years of fire service experience to the table, contributed to the talks, emphasizing the advantage of seizing the current construction landscape which affords some economies of scale and locking in costs that are predicted to rise.
Mayor Michael Caldwell lauded the council's strategic move, stating, “You’ve just added two new fire stations that will dramatically improve coverage and response times across our city, saving lives for generations to come." He also referenced the recent progress in Woodstock's public safety, mentioning, “Since I’ve joined you in this role, you made a 26% starting pay increase for police officers which resulted in being fully staffed on the police force in the city and for the first time in over 10 years, you hired 12 new firefighters taking the fire department from 48 to 60." The council's actions not only cater to the immediate needs of the community but also hint at a vision for a future-proof, resilient city.
In practical terms, the construction of the third fire station on Ridgewalk Parkway, designated as Station 28, will cost approximately $7.437 million, while the fourth, located on Long Drive, is estimated to be just over $6.831 million. The numbers reflect a savings of $606,000 by launching both projects simultaneously, a savvy move by the city council amid rising construction costs. The expansion from two to four fire stations is anticipated to significantly enhance Woodstock's capacity to handle fire and medical emergencies and improve collaborative response efforts with neighboring jurisdictions and Cherokee County.
