Monteagle Fire Hall Design Gets the Green Light
by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer
“We’re really excited,” said Monteagle Fire Chief Mike Holmes. “We’ve been in a rented building almost three years.”
At a special called meeting June 18, the Monteagle Regional Planning Committee approved the site plan for the new fire hall. Discussion stalled last February when the design under consideration was downsized to conform to the budget. The downsized plan wouldn’t accommodate the department’s equipment.
The site plan, prepared by American Engineering Solutions (AES), calls for a 6,000 square foot metal building with three bays, an office, kitchen, training room, and men’s and women’s bathrooms with showers. AES constructed the Whitwell fire hall and offers both design and building services, resulting in a cost savings for the city, with the total bill for design and construction coming in under budget at $365,200.
Slated for construction on the site of the former fire hall, which was demolished, the building will sit back further from the College Street entrance than the former facility. The 35-foot setback was needed to give the department space to pull out the trucks for washing and other maintenance. The longest truck is 31 feet, 6 inches.
Planning Committee Chair Carter Underhill asked for the special called meeting so the site plan could be approved and forwarded to the Monteagle City Council for final approval at the June 24 meeting. Monteagle building inspector Earl Geary reviewed the plan and found it in compliance with all city codes and building requirements.
“Construction is expected to begin in as soon as two weeks,” said Kenneth Gipson, Monteagle alderman and planning committee alternate.
The rented building currently occupied by the fire department costs the city $1,100 each month. The projected completion date of the new fire hall is early November.