According to a report from Bradley County Engineer Sandra Knight, “the soils reports show very good soils at the Minnis Road Site.”
Tests at the future Georgetown and Waterville sites brought a few concerns. Knight said there was some plasticity of the soil eight feet below the Georgetown Road site. She said this should not be an issue based on the current plans.
However, testing at the Waterville site shows that the location of the fire station will need to be moved “about 20 feet to the east and using a spread footing,” according to Knight’s report.
Committee member Ed Elkins said the department should also keep in mind how the widening of Highway 60 may affect the Georgetown site.
“The new right of way is supposed to be 104 feet. Now I don’t know exactly how much of that is going to come off the south side of the road and how much is going to come off the north side,” Elkins said. “But, I think someone needs to take a look at that, and that could affect the location of the building there.”
He said the widening might affect where the parking lot for the station can be put.
There was no word yet on whether the county’s application for a grant from FEMA had been approved. The FEMA grant provides funding to help with construction if the structures are built to withstand 250 mph winds.
If the grant is approved it will change the construction timeline slightly. Instead of being bid in June the project would be bid in August, according to BCFR administrative assistant Paula Garner. She said this would be the only change to the timeline.
Meanwhile, Bradley County Fire Rescue is moving forward with the hiring process to have the first round of rookies hired by August.
So far, 34 applicants have passed the written and agility tests, Garner said.
Only 12 will be hired for the first round but 35 new firefighters will be needed before the three new stations are operational.
