With the help of many Department of Correction employees and community leaders, the Molena fire station is being built. Ground was broken and plans observed in the presence of (l-r) Ronnie Kinnas and Jerry Summerville of the DOC, city manager Jim Roberts, mayor Brian Callaway, Dean Joyce of the DOC, county commission chairman Doug Mangham, Bill Brand of the DOC, Molena councilman Darrell Riggins, project coordinator John McGuffy and Molena councilman George Ingram.
Molena fire station being built
Nearly six months after materials arrived, construction of Molena’s new fire station is underway with skilled inmate labor saving the city many thousands of dollars. The footings have been placed for the foundation and, if the weather cooperates, the concrete will be poured this week for the 5,100 square foot fire station.
The metal building will include three bays for fire trucks, a training room, dayroom, kitchen, an office for the Molena police department, adequate parking and improved bay doors – all of which will help lower emergency response times.
“Before, firefighters had to park up and down the street which took away from their response time,” said fire chief Mike Grant. “The new station will also lower response time because they’re no longer chain-raising the door, taking the truck out and then closing the door behind them to secure the station. That added two to three minutes to their response time before. Firefighters will be able to study and gather there where there isn’t enough room to do that now. Having firefighters at the station is like having a paid firefighter because it reduces the time it takes to respond to an emergency.”
Molena saved up to $40,000 on construction of the new fire station through the collaborative efforts of many community leaders.
“There’s no way we could have afforded to do this project without the skilled inmate labor and there are so many people to thank who made that possible,” said city manager Jim Roberts. “When we started discussing this project, it began as a SPLOST committee determining the city’s needs. When it came to finally picking the plan and what needed to be built, we had roughly $190,000 for the fire station and attached city office. It appeared there was no way we could stay within budget with those funds.”
“Council member Darrel Riggins came up with idea of using inmate labor and with the help of warden Edd Sanders, Robert Kinnas, Jerry Summerville and county manager Bill Sawyer it became a reality. We now have inmates that are actively building a fire station.”
Grant said the building is being constructed so it can be expanded in the future if needed. Both Grant and Roberts said the Department of Corrections have been great to work with on the project.
“Before, firefighters had to park up and down the street which took away from their response time,” said fire chief Mike Grant. “The new station will also lower response time because they’re no longer chain-raising the door, taking the truck out and then closing the door behind them to secure the station. That added two to three minutes to their response time before. Firefighters will be able to study and gather there where there isn’t enough room to do that now. Having firefighters at the station is like having a paid firefighter because it reduces the time it takes to respond to an emergency.”
Molena saved up to $40,000 on construction of the new fire station through the collaborative efforts of many community leaders.
“There’s no way we could have afforded to do this project without the skilled inmate labor and there are so many people to thank who made that possible,” said city manager Jim Roberts. “When we started discussing this project, it began as a SPLOST committee determining the city’s needs. When it came to finally picking the plan and what needed to be built, we had roughly $190,000 for the fire station and attached city office. It appeared there was no way we could stay within budget with those funds.”
“Council member Darrel Riggins came up with idea of using inmate labor and with the help of warden Edd Sanders, Robert Kinnas, Jerry Summerville and county manager Bill Sawyer it became a reality. We now have inmates that are actively building a fire station.”
Grant said the building is being constructed so it can be expanded in the future if needed. Both Grant and Roberts said the Department of Corrections have been great to work with on the project.
best amenities and equipment we can provide. This is good news.