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Stephens County firefighters have a new vehicle that will be used for rehab and shelter during area firefights. That's it to the left. Pictured are local firefighters Capt. Lee Woody, Eastanollee Fire Chief Jamey Gettys, and Brandon Hicks.
Stephens County and Toccoa firefighters have a new unit to assist them in their battles against blazes thanks to Rabun County.
It's a 2017 Freightliner Rabun sold to Stephens County for $5,000.
The Stephens County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the purchase at the board's March 23 meeting.
County administrator Phyllis Ayers said the vehicle, which had been used as an ambulance in Rabun County, had 60,000 miles on it and would serve as a medical unit / cooling area for firefighters.
The unit is stationed at the Eastanollee Fire Station.
Eastanollee Fire Chief Jamey Gettys said Tuesday the vehicle is prepared to be lettered.
"It will respond where needed to assist any units in the county that need rehab," Gettys said. "This could include large fires, missing persons, events, or any scene that may require extended time or exhaustive work."
Gettys said that amenities the unit will house include shelter, heat, cooling, food, drink, fans, chairs, hand warmers, and other items to provide firefighters comfort at fire sites.
"In a nutshell, it will provide comfort to public safety," Gettys said.
"When public safety works long hours on these scenes, the rehab unit will be extremely helpful," Gettys said.
"We sometimes are out in the heat, cold, and rain for hours with no place to get shelter," Gettys said.
"I want to give special thanks to both Rabun County and Stephens County boards of commissioners for helping us accomplish this much needed resource," Gettys said.
"Now the work starts to equip the vehicle and letter it to match the fire service colors," Gettys said.
Ayers said the funds for the rehab unit will come out of county contingencies.
Also March 23, the board approved extending the Families First Coronavirus Response Act for employees to receive paid leave rights through June 30.
"I think this will give a chance for more and more employees to be vaccinated," said commissioner Dean Scarborough.
In other business at the March 23 board meeting, commissioners approved the following land use requests:
• Requests from The Pointe church on Big A Road to rezone 4.33 acres to commercial general and a variance for a second principal building on the property.
Executive pastor Gary Knight said the rezoning aligns the parcel with neighboring zonings.
• A request from Richard Santiago for property on Brookstone Drive to rezone 4.04 acres to agriculture residential.
• A request from Pamila McIntyre, agent Dustin Sheldon, and Patrick Cody Shelton to rezone 6.75 acres on Shelton Road to rezone 6.75 acres fo agriculture residential.
• A request from the Sheltons to rezone an accitional 5 acres on Shelton Road to agriculture residential also was approved.
• A request from the Stephens County Development Authority to rezone 10.73 acres on Clary Connector to commercial industrial.
• A request from Lisa Modzelewski to rezone 3.78 acres on Old East Silver Shoals Road to agriculture residential for chickens and miniature goats.
• A request from Jim Harper for a variance for a 15-foot setback for property on Curraheee Point.
The board also discussed sending a letter to railroad authorities due to complaints received about trains blocking railroad crossings for hours.