As of September 24, 2024 this project was awarded to Hooker Construction, but the awarded amount is not available. https://www.djournal.com/hooker-construction-inc-awarded-contract-to-construct-new-pontotoc-fire-station/article_7cf9111c-6196-11ef-8a50-cfaff3ab9f59.html At their August 22 meeting the Pontotoc Board of Aldermen unanimously approved a low and best bid of $2,920,000 from Hooker Construction Co., of Thaxton, to construction a new downtown Pontotoc Fire Station. Other bidders on the project included: Flagstar Construction at 3.6-million; M&N Construction at $3.3-million; Worsham Brothers at $3.2-million; McCarty King Construction, Inc., at $3.1-million; and Hills Construction at $3,093,000. Over the past three years Pontotoc officials have gained approval of a $1.1-million USDA grant and $1.75-million in two different state grants for construction of the project, which totals $2.85-million in grant funds. "With those grants the new fire station project will be at little, or no cost to the local citizens," said Pontotoc Mayor Bob Peeples. "Getting everything approved has been three years in the making and a special thanks goes to Fire Chief Lance Martin and Assistant Chief Brad White, they've done yeoman's work in working with our legislators and the architects on this great project." The new fire station will be located at the intersection of Reynolds Street and North Columbia Streets across from the Pontotoc Police Station. Mayor Peeples said he's confident that Hooker Construction Co. will do a great job on the fire department construction. "It's good to have local folks doing this project because they're right here in Pontotoc County, their crew and everything," Peeples said. "They'll do a great job. And it won't be a lot of travel involved for their workers. They have done a lot of work for the county. We're excited to have them on this project." "We're going to meet with the Hooker Construction Co. officials and see if there's some room to cut back a little on a few things to get it down to no local out of pocket money," he said. "This project is going to be a brand new state of the art fire station, including four bays for the fire engines to pull through from the back to the front of the building, no having to back anything in off the street like we do now. This facility should accommodate the city for generations to come in terms of fire station needs." "This building gives us an additional bay and the bay area will be larger than the current fire station on Main St.. The rescue truck and brush truck will be able to park front to back inside. It gives us room for growth in terms of trucks." The fire station construction contract allows for 400 days "They have indicated they can get started almost immediately," Peeples said. "It will take a while for materials to come in, but there's drainage work that can be done right away. They'll be able to get the lot prepped and all the dirt hauled in. And they can get the concrete poured and be ready to get the metal structure going when materials arrive." Pontotoc Fire Chief Lance Martin said final project approval took about a year longer than anticipated, but stressed the new fire station will be worth the extra effort. "This fire station project has been ongoing for almost three years now," Martin said. "It's been a lot working with all the different agencies getting these grants approved and getting everything in compliance to secure these grants, but the good news is these grants will almost fully fund this much needed project. We appreciate all the legislators who helped us get these grant monies approved." "And yes, we're very excited, definitely," Martin said. "Our current fire station has some facility issues ongoing, from the drainage to the traffic issues on Main Street, school traffic. And there was absolutely no way to expand our services from this current fire station location downtown." "Total square footage of the new two story fire station is going to be about 9,000 square feet. That includes about 5,200 square feet of engine bay space. Downstairs it's going to be about 1,700 square feet of day room and office space and 1,700 square feet of private living quarters upstairs." "The upstairs will accommodate easily four on duty at one time at that station. Future wise, it will accommodate six on duty at one time with no hill to climb. We can double our staff and house everyone for generations to come." The Pontotoc Fire Department currently has 12 total full-time firemen. Fire Station No. 2 is located on Henry Southern Road, off of Highway 15 north. Martin said he too was excited to see Hooker Construction get the project. "They will do a great job. With good weather, and if materials are available when needed, it's realistic to be looking at completion by end of summer next year, maybe into October. " ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Separate sealed BIDS or electronic BIDS for the new construction of a 9,090 sq. ft. fire station. The work will include general construction with associated structural, mechanical, plumbing, and electrical construction and site development. The building will be a Type III building with steel and wood framed construction. ***Document Note: The CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be examined at the following location: JBHM Architects, P.A., 105 Court Street, Tupelo, MS 38804. Copies of the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS may be obtained as paper prints or electronic format via online website. This project requires a deposit of $300.00. Cost of electronic format prints will be listed on online. Any BIDDER, upon returning the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS within ten (10) days of the bid date and in good condition, will be refunded one-half (1/2) of the deposit on one set, and any non-bidder upon so returning the CONTRACT DOCUMENTS within ten (10) days of the bid date and in good condition, will be refunded one-half (1/2) of the deposit on one set. Electronic format prints are NON-REFUNDABLE.