New Stations Will Be Built on Ridgewalk Parkway and Long Drive to Provide Better Fire Service to the Community

WOODSTOCK, GA (August 12, 2025) – In a landmark decision at Monday’s Regular Meeting, Woodstock City Council unanimously voted to approve the construction of two new fire stations, marking one of the most significant investments in public safety in the city’s history.

The city council has been considering the addition of a third fire station for several years and adding 12 new firefighters to staff a third fire station at Ridgewalk Pkwy in the city’s FY2026 Budget. Knowing Woodstock officials have been evaluating the need for a fourth fire station as well, the project’s contractor Spratlin Construction, a firm with extensive experience in regional fire station projects, offered a significant cost savings if the city could launch both stations at the same time. Woodstock Fire Chief Shane Dobson demonstrated to City Council that the Woodstock Fire Department’s personnel plan could utilize the 12 new firefighters to create a shift spread across all four stations and said plans are in place to refurbish an existing reserve fire truck to further reduce costs.

City Manager Jeff Moon presented two separate contracts to the mayor and council. In the contract for the third fire station on Ridgewalk Parkway, Station 28, costs total $7.437 million. The contract for the fourth station on Long Drive uses the same plans as the first building and the costs total just over $6.831 million. Building the two stations at the same time creates a savings of $606,000 based on quotes from subcontractors good this week.

Moon presented information on financing to the City Council with figures on debt service for both one station and two stations over 15 to 20 years with public offerings or private placements. Noting that Woodstock has over a million dollars left in SPLOST IV for a fire station and the option to re-allocate impact fees from parks and recreation to public safety, Moon said the city already has mechanisms in place to mitigate budget impact in coming years. He also noted the city’s strong bond rating saying, “If anyone ever asks you why the city council went to the trouble to raise the city’s bond rating, look at the public offering, 15 years premium discount so people buying the bonds are going to write you a check just to buy your bonds.”

City Council discussed many factors in considering approval of construction of a third and fourth fire station calling on Council Member Wolfe, a 28-year fire service veteran, for expertise while discussing material and labor cost increases, economies of scale, fiscal responsibility, historical trends, population growth, and department response times. These factors combine to create a challenging environment for municipal construction projects, making it more economical to build sooner rather than later, as costs are not expected to decrease in the foreseeable future. Following the discussion, Woodstock City Council approved the construction of city’s third fire station on Ridgewalk Parkway with a unanimous vote of 5-0 and approved the construction of the city’s fourth fire station on Long Drive with a unanimous vote of 5-0 as well.

Mayor Michael Caldwell commended the council’s decision, noting the long-term benefits, “You’ve just added two new fire stations that will dramatically improve coverage and response times across our city, saving lives for generations to come. Since I’ve joined you in this role, you made a 26% starting pay increase for police officers which resulted in being fully staffed on the police force in the city and for the first time in over 10 years, you hired 12 new firefighters taking the fire department from 48 to 60. You’ve made historic investments in public safety.”

Caldwell continued, “You’ve done it while continuing to lower the tax burden on our citizens, and you’ve doubled the size of our economy in this city. This is historic.”

With the additions, Woodstock will grow from two to four fire stations, expanding capacity for both fire and medical emergencies while supporting joint response efforts with Cherokee County and neighboring jurisdictions.

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About City of Woodstock, GA: Located just 30 miles north of Atlanta, Woodstock’s City limits include more than 12 square miles and over 35,000 residents. Woodstock is a Georgia PlanFirst Community, and a recipient of Georgia Municipal Association’s Live Work Play City Award. Learn more at woodstockga.gov.