Mableton fire station to be rebuilt

For an estimated cost of $4.4 million, a new fire station will be built in Mableton to replace the current Cobb Fire Station 1. AJC file photo

For an estimated cost of $4.4 million, a new fire station will be built in Mableton to replace the current Cobb Fire Station 1. AJC file photo

Cobb Fire Station 1 in Mableton will be relocated and built for an estimated $4.4 million, using land already owned by Cobb County.

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners recently authorized the use of $3.3 million in 2016 Special Purpose Local Option Salex Tax funds and $1.1 million from the Fire Fund’s Fund Balance.

Fire Station 1 “has reached the end of its useful service life” and “presented multiple, significant repair maintenance and environmental issues,” according to Cobb Fire Chief Randy Crider and Cobb Public Safety Agency Director Sam Heaton in a July 10 memo to Cobb County Manager Rob Hosack.

Due to increased construction costs for materials and labor, the $3.3 million cost has risen significantly by $1.1 million to complete the facility construction and additional operating costs, they added. Current operational costs for the present Fire Station 1 are $26,000 each year.

Once built, estimated operational costs annually for a larger, yet more energy-efficient facility will be $12,000. That means the potential savings, with the new facility, will be about $14,000 each year.