East McComb residents will begin to see construction on a new fire station by this summer.
McComb selectmen have awarded a bid of $630,000 from Jay-Van Co. of Hattiesburg to rebuild Fire Station No. 3.
Fire Chief Stephen Adams said earlier that he was satisfied with the new design by architect Steve Cox of McComb and that it maintains all of the safety requirements and saves taxpayers thousands of dollars.
The board also approved Cox’s $33,075 payment for work on the project.
The next step is getting paperwork from construction contractors, Adams said.
“Cox said he would get contracts in order first thing ... pending this vote,” Adams said.
The change includes one major difference in the blueprints that takes out a lot of dirt work and drainage issues. Instead of a drive-through building with an entrance on one street and the exit on another street, there will be one bay to park in, which they will back-in and face out.
The city will also receive $175,000 for the new fire station through a bond bill from the state of Mississippi.
The remaining cost for the fire station will come out of the city’s general fund.
Until Fire Station No. 3 can be built, the firemen for that district will move out of the breakroom at Public Works on E. Michigan Ave., and into something a little more like home.
The board approved the use of a FEMA cottage owned by the City of Meridian as a temporary fire station in East McComb.
Adams updated the board on the steps that were taken after the March 30 special called meeting.
“The night of that meeting we put a truck in East McComb. These guys have been staying in the break room of Public Works.
“I found this unit we can use,” Adams explained. “We are ‘borrowing’ it. We will use it as our firehouse, and when Fire Station No. 3 is built, we will return it to the City of Meridian.”
The board also approved a budget amendment for up to $12,000 for related expenses to move and set up the cottage on the property of the old Fire Station No.3 on East Michigan Avenue.
The selectmen and mayor will have a work session at 5:30 p.m., Tuesday. The next regularly scheduled board meeting is 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28.
