Athens TransparencyPublic records. Clearer understanding.Local research preview

Project histories

Fire Station No. 3 project history

Council records trace the project from authorization to search for land, through the Elizabeth Street acquisition and design phases, to the June 2026 KTM construction award and July 2026 testing-services approval. Property acquisition, planning approvals, proposals, budgets, contract authorizations, and documented payments remain separate stages.

Approvals, contract amounts, and reported expenditure describe different stages. They are not added together as a project total.

  1. Council authorizes a search for fire-station landProperty search authorized · PASSED — consent agenda

    As part of the consent agenda, Council authorized the mayor, city manager, and fire chief to look for land to purchase for an additional fire station. This authorized a search; it did not approve a parcel, purchase price, closing, or payment.

    • Sherlin: yes
    • Curtis: yes
    • Eaton: yes
    • Pelley: yes

    Recorded vote: yes: Sherlin, Curtis, Eaton, Pelley, no: none

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

  2. Property discussion deferred for more informationProperty discussion awaits more information

    Chief Ainsworth said additional information was awaited. Mayor Sherlin said the property matter would be placed on the June work-session agenda. No purchase approval was recorded in this item.

  3. Elizabeth Street property purchase approvedElizabeth Street property purchase approved · PASSED

    Councilmember Curtis moved and Councilmember Witt-McMahan seconded approval to purchase property on Elizabeth Street for Fire Station 3. AYES: Curtis, Witt-McMahan, Pelley, Eaton, Sherlin. NAYS: None. The minutes state no purchase price and do not establish closing or payment.

    • Curtis: yes
    • Witt-McMahan: yes
    • Pelley: yes
    • Eaton: yes
    • Sherlin: yes

    Recorded vote: yes: Curtis, Witt-McMahan, Pelley, Eaton, Sherlin, no: none

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

  4. 2.47-acre acquisition reported completeProperty acquired (subsequent staff report)

    A January 2025 City staff overview reports that the City purchased 2.47 acres on Elizabeth Street during June 2024 for Fire Station #3. This adds completed-purchase status and acreage to the June 18, 2024 approval already in the project history. The source is a subsequent City staff statement, not a deed or closing statement. It gives no purchase price, exact closing date, deed reference, seller, or payment source.

  5. Council authorizes design and construction planningProject planning authorized · PASSED

    Council authorized the city manager to begin planning the design and future construction of an additional fire station on Elizabeth Street. The authorization did not award a design or construction contract.

    • Curtis: yes
    • Eaton: yes
    • Duggan: yes
    • Pelley: yes

    Recorded vote: yes: Curtis, Eaton, Duggan, Pelley, no: none

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

  6. Wold architectural agreement approvedFire Station #3 design agreement · PASSED — consent agenda

    Vice Mayor Curtis moved to approve all consent agenda items as presented; Councilmember Sherlin seconded. The packet says the proposed Wold agreement set Phase I at a $45,000 flat fee and Phase II at 6.5% of final construction cost. Its $455,000 Phase II figure was explicitly an example based on a hypothetical $7 million construction cost, not an invoice or payment.

    • Eaton: yes
    • Sherlin: yes
    • Curtis: yes
    • Duggan: abstain

    Recorded vote: yes: Eaton, Sherlin, Curtis, no: none, abstain: Duggan

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

  7. Council directs Wold design to proceedProceed with Fire Station #3 design · PASSED

    Councilmember Pelley moved to approve going forward with the designing process with Wold Architects and Engineers; seconded by Vice Mayor Curtis.

    • Sherlin: yes
    • Duggan: yes
    • Pelley: yes
    • Eaton: yes
    • Curtis: yes

    Recorded vote: yes: Sherlin, Duggan, Pelley, Eaton, Curtis, no: none

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

  8. Fire Station financing scenario modeledFinancing scenario / staff analysis

    The Finance Director modeled borrowing $3.9 million for the station over 15 years, estimating $375,000 annual debt service and a 5.77-cent property-tax-rate increase. He also stated the projected $800,000 annual operating cost could not be covered by normal revenue growth.

    Amount reported at this stage: $3,900,000

  9. Wold Phase II fee proposal documentedPhase II design proposal

    Wold proposed a $410,150 Phase II fee: $328,120 for design through bidding and $82,030 for construction administration. The letter says only design and procurement/bidding were requested then; construction administration required a later separate Notice to Proceed.

    Amount reported at this stage: $410,150

  10. Phase II approved with bid alternativesFire Station #3 Phase II with bid alternatives · PASSED — as amended

    Vice Mayor Curtis then moved to approve proceeding with Phase II, specifying that various alternatives be offered during the bid process; seconded by Councilmember Pelley.

    • Pelley: yes
    • Duggan: yes
    • Curtis: yes
    • Eaton: yes
    • Sherlin: no

    Recorded vote: yes: Pelley, Duggan, Curtis, Eaton, no: Sherlin

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

  11. KTM bid and total project estimate presentedBid recommendation / project estimate

    The work-session packet identified KTM Builders as the lowest responsive bidder at $5,985,590, including a $250,000 contingency, and estimated the total project at $6,755,740. It said about $400,000 had already been spent on planning and design; that rounded statement is not invoice-level proof.

    Amount reported at this stage: $5,985,590

  12. KTM construction contract awardedConstruction contract awarded · PASSED

    Council unanimously awarded RFB 26-03 to KTM Builders for $5,985,590 from the Capital Improvement Fund. A proposed $3 million loan/debt amendment was withdrawn, so the minutes do not authorize that financing scenario.

    Amount reported at this stage: $5,985,590

    • Curtis: yes
    • Duggan: yes
    • Eaton: yes
    • Sherlin: yes
    • McCowan: yes

    Recorded vote: yes: Curtis, Duggan, Eaton, Sherlin, McCowan, no: none

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

  13. $7.5 million capital budget documentedBudgeted capital amount

    For fiscal year 2026-27, beginning July 1, 2026, the adopted-budget source lists $7.5 million to construct Fire Station #3 using city funds in the Capital Improvement Fund.

    Amount reported at this stage: $7,500,000

  14. Summer 2027 completion forecastExpected completion schedule

    The adopted FY2026-27 annual budget labels Summer 2027 as the expected completion period for New Fire Station #3. Forecast only; it does not prove construction completion, acceptance, or payment.

  15. UES materials testing proposal approvedProfessional services approved / estimated unit-rate cost · PASSED — consent agenda

    Council unanimously approved UES Professional Solutions 18, LLC for construction materials testing and special inspections at an estimated $48,475. The proposal states this is not a lump sum and billing depends on services actually performed at unit rates.

    Amount reported at this stage: $48,475

    • McCowan: yes
    • Curtis: yes
    • Eaton: yes
    • Duggan: yes
    • Sherlin: yes

    Recorded vote: yes: McCowan, Curtis, Eaton, Duggan, Sherlin, no: none

    Reviewed decisions: View decision

What remains unconnectedEvidence needed to complete the trail.
  • What was the Elizabeth Street property's purchase price, closing date, deed reference, and payment source? The reviewed records do not establish these details.
  • Is there a signed/executed KTM construction contract, notice to proceed, pay application, change order, or payment ledger after the June 16 award?
  • Was Wold's separate Notice to Proceed for the $82,030 construction-administration portion issued?
  • What source documents support the packet's rounded statement that approximately $400,000 had already been spent on planning and design?
  • What UES testing invoices and actual services were later incurred under the unit-rate approval?

Related department spending history · Records review · Search related source records