Quick Poll

If a Tornado Warning was issued for Coweta, have you developed a storm plan and 'safe place' in your house in case it strikes?

Blogs

Angela McRae

Tea with friends

Deberah Williams

Everyday Finesse

Lorrie Lynch

Who's News

Published Sunday, September 21, 2008 in Local

Fire department bond vote on some ballots

By Amy Lott

The Newnan Times-Herald

A fire bond referendum for unincorporated Coweta County will be one issue some early voters face Monday morning as advance polling officially begins at the Coweta County Voter Registrar's Office in Newnan.

According to County Public Information Officer Patricia Palmer, only residents of Moreland, Turin, Sharpsburg and unincorporated areas of the county may cast a ballot for or against the $20 million bond, which would cause a millage increase and be repaid over a 20-year period.

If approved, the fire bond would cover the cost of rebuilding the fire headquarters at Station 6 on Turkey Creek Road and also provide funding for a new station at Corinth Road and Bohanon Road, Palmer said. With an additional facility in place, the county ISO rating would improve, and homeowners in the vicinity of the station would see lowered insurance rates, she said.

A new, longer ladder truck and two tanker trucks would also be purchased, Palmer said, which would help with fires at churches and school campuses, as well as on the interstate.

Palmer said the most important change would be the implementation of a new 800 MHz radio system offering more capacity -- 95 percent of the county would be covered -- and subgroup bundling. Public safety personnel would have 10-12 frequencies instead of one, and multiple agencies would have the option of linking with the fire department's system. As for current communications systems, Palmer said, "They're based on 40-year-old technology... they're antiquated systems."

The fire bond, if passed, would enhance public safety in Coweta County, according to Palmer.

"It would provide greater protection for our community," she said.