By DAVE HAMRICK
Staff Writer

Fayette County picked up almost $500,000 in federal grants for public safety last week.

Firefighters sleeping at the foot of Dickson Lake Dam will get a new station and county residents will get the beginnings of a network of severe weather warning sirens as a result.

The Georgia Emergency Management Agency has announced a $398,194 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to relocate fire station one, with the county providing the remainder of the $530,925 project.

GEMA announced the grant during Jack Krakeel Day ceremonies. The celebration last Wednesday honored Fayette's director of fire and emergency services, recently named national Fire Chief of the Year (see related story).

GEMA also announced a grant of $82,479 to help install a warning siren, pole and associated hardware on Rivers Road at Cedar Lane.

Local officials have been working for two years to get funding to replace fire station one on Ga. Highway 314. Plans are to replace four county stations in the near future, but station one is a priority and qualified for the hazard mitigation grant because of its proximity to the dam.

U. S. Rep. Mac Collins, who represents Fayette and several other counties, worked to help secure federal funds for the grant, said Krakeel. “Mac's assistance on this project was absolutely instrumental in Fayette Country receiving this grant,” he said.

A meeting in Collins' office last December “was the pivotal point, in my opinion, that enabled us to adequately explain our position to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and have them gain a better understanding of what we wanted to achieve with our proposal. There is no doubt in my mind without his assistance we would not be where we are today,” Krakeel added.

FEMA officials had turned down the grant twice before Collins got involved, officials said.

The new building, to be built at the intersection of Ga. highways 314 and 279, will house two firefighters as well as the fire engines and equipment used by the firefighting and rescue teams based at the building.

The old building will be removed, and the area made a permanent green space, as part of the grant requirements.

Funding for the warning siren is the beginning of a project that will take several years. Officials hope to eventually have 40 sirens to warn residents of approaching tornadoes or other severe weather.

“We are pleased to partner up with Fayette County under your commitment and your leadership,” GEMA director Gary McConnell told Krakeel and Fayette's county commissioners as he announced the grants last week.