Vidalia police, fire now relocated

Published 12:04 am Saturday, April 28, 2012

VIDALIA — It’s a full house at the Vidalia Municipal Complex.

But with a 30,000-square foot facility, none of the city departments should worry about stepping on each other’s toes.

As of early last week, Vidalia City, Police and Fire Departments have all moved into the complex located off of U.S. 84 near Walmart.

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The municipal complex consists of a 10,000-square foot City Hall building, a 12,000-square foot fire department building and an 8,000-square foot police department building.

Fire Chief Jack D. Langston said the biggest change from the old building, which was built in 1954, to the new building is the amount of space.

“We were just so crowded before, and now we’re not stepping on each others toes all the time,” Langston said. “We’re really enjoying it.”

Langston said the new building offers more space for the fire trucks, living quarters and office space.

“Before we were operating all office space out of portable buildings in the back,” Langston said. “Now we have enough room for everyone inside the new building.”

Police Chief Arthur Lewis said the new facility will allow for the department to continue expanding with the city.

“Vidalia is growing and our department has to grow with it,” Lewis said. “I’m really excited about the new building and the future of Vidalia and our department.”

Three holding cells and offices for investigators and crime scene specialists are among a few additions the new building provides the police department.

But not letting any available space go to waste, Langston and Lewis said the department’s old buildings on John Dale Drive, will still be used as substations — following some renovations.

“Both stations will respond to any calls we get, so that way we can cover more of the city,” Langston said. “As the city continues to grow, we have to increase our personnel and facilities too.”

Having two facilities with the ability to respond to calls will hopefully help the city’s current fire rating of three to move to a two or one, Langston said.

Several officers, a desk sergeant, TRIAD and school resources officers will soon call the old police department building home, Lewis said.

“We want to make sure people can still walk up and make complaints at that building,” Lewis said. “That way people that are not able to make it all the way to the new building can still go to our old location to file complaints.”

Mayor Hyram Copeland and the city departments were the first to move in early March and said, other than a few telephone glitches that are being worked out — everything is going great in the new facilities.

“We’re all very excited about having all our departments finally moved into their new facilities,” Copeland said. “This is a tremendous asset to our community, and we’ve received a lot of good feedback from them on the new complex.”

A $6.94 million U.S. Department of Agriculture loan to be paid out over 40 years financed the complex.

The complex is adjacent to a $6.5 million 50-acre recreation complex, which will feature tennis courts, four baseball fields, four softball fields, covered and uncovered basketball courts, soccer fields concession stands and a number of other features.

Copeland said the city will have a ribbon cutting ceremony for both facilities in late July or August.