CLAYTON, La. – The Town of Clayton has received a $48,750 federal grant to build a fire station, Rep. John Cooksey’s office announced Tuesday.

The station, which will include bays to house the town’s two fire trucks, will be located next to the Clayton post office on Louisiana 15.

&uot;I thank God we got this grant. I’ve been pushing to get a station built ever since I became chief 11 years ago,&uot; said Rogers Hollins Jr., who serves as the town’s fire and police chief.

&uot;Now we’ll have somewhere to park our trucks besides at City Hall,&uot; he added. Hollins also said that the station could help lower the fire rating of the town, if the town could also find a way to fund extra personnel and equipment for the department.

The town currently has a fire rating of 7. Lowering that rating, in turn, could save homeowners money on fire insurance.

&uot;And the station will be built in a central location,&uot; Hollins said.

Town officials still do not know when construction will start on the new station. And figures on how much in town funds will have to be spent to supplement the grant were not available as of Tuesday.

Still, Clayton Board of Aldermen members were thrilled to hear that the town had been awarded the grant by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development Agency and its Community Facility program.

&uot;We’ve been pushing for this for years,&uot;&160;said Alderman Bill Evans. &uot;It will definitely be an asset to the town.&uot;

&uot;This is something that has been very badly needed for a long time, and I’m glad we got it,&uot; said Alderwoman Gail Duncan.

Mayor Wilbert Washington could not be reached for comment Tuesday.