At the July 1 SPLOST 9 work session, Chief Burton presented a multi‑part request for the fire department focused on apparatus replacement and critical facility upgrades.

Chief Burton said the department wants to establish a steady apparatus replacement program, noting aging fire trucks increase maintenance costs, downtime and risk to operations. “A true apparatus replacement program avoids aging fleet and emergency purchases,” Burton said, and he described a four‑year phased plan for specific units.

Burton also identified three high‑priority station projects and asked for funding to address facilities that have “exceeded their useful life.” He emphasized that modern stations improve response reliability, provide training and community space and support firefighter health and wellbeing. The chief asked that replacement work preserve response coverage and not unduly consolidate stations in ways that would harm response times.

Other requests included replacement of turnout gear (noting gear has a nominal 10‑year service life but can prematurely degrade), installation of a firefighter accountability system that provides real‑time tracking in immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH) environments, repairs to critical building systems (HVAC, roofing, ADA improvements) and driveway repairs to prevent apparatus damage and delays.

Chief Burton also requested a Class A burn building for realistic live‑fire training, which he said improves search‑and‑rescue, ventilation and fire behavior training under controlled, true‑to‑life conditions.

Commissioners asked whether consolidation of older stations had been considered and whether community rooms included in station designs would be shared with the public; Burton said stations are sited to meet local response needs and that training rooms could be used by firefighters primarily and by community groups when not in use.

No funding decision was made; the chief said the department will provide more detailed project lists and cost estimates for the SPLOST package and work with county staff on prioritization.