Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department has more space for community

Pickens County residents have a new community space alongside important lifesaving services. It’s an expansion that connects to the Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department. Currently, new area will be used for drive-thru COVID testing and vaccinations.

“After the pandemic, we didn’t have anywhere to do COVID testing,” Carrollton Mayor Mickey Walker said. “So we reached out to (the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs) and they gave us the paperwork. We filled it out and received a grant to build an addition to the fire station.”

ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell was on-hand the ribbon cutting Tuesday.

“The primary purpose, from a standpoint of COVID, is making sure there are testing stations that could somewhat mitigate well people from not so well people,” Boswell said. “This space actually (can be used as) a facility with a drive-thru bay for doctors and nurses to do the testing for citizens and make sure if they do have COVID that they get appropriate treatment.”

Federal COVID funding offered to Alabama paid for the $600,000 add-on.

“I tell you we are very grateful for Gov. Kay Ivey and ADECA for buying into our town and seeing the need,” Walker said. “We did not have anywhere to hold testing. We are going to be able to use this for public functions.”

Nearby health provider Whatley Health Services is also grateful for this new space.

“We have a new facility here in Carrollton,” Whatley Health Services Family Nurse Practitioner Parthenia Oliver said. “I am just so grateful for the Carrollton community for providing this service to the residents. It will give us access to COVID vaccinations especially in inclement weather where they have the opportunity to drive though to receive those vaccinations. We are just grateful for this new addition.”

The space is available to rent for community functions and fundraisers, and the fire department also now has space for adding a ladder truck.