After surplusing the old fire station No. 2 more than a month ago, the City of Cullman has voted to exchange the property for a larger tract of land on the north side of town.

The old 4,000-square-foot fire station included about an acre of land, while the piece of property the city exchanged for accounts for approximately 11 acres.

The land — previously owned by Neal Culpepper — is located off Mitchell Road, near River Birch Apartments.

Cullman Mayor Max Townson said the new property could prove useful once the economy eventually rebounds.

“We felt like we could better use that as the city,” he said. “We may eventually build a warehouse out there, or the power board might be interested in that property. We think it has a lot of potential.”

The old fire station property appraised for approximately $122,000, while the 11 acres appraised for $132,000.

“We couldn’t do the swap unless we got the advantage on that,” Townson said.

The old fire station, built in 1964, was replaced in 2009 with a new $1.4 million facility further south on Main Avenue. The new station is an estimated 8,500-square-feet in size — more than twice as large as the old station No. 2 — and provides additional engine room space, an expanded dorm, kitchen, dining room, living room, tornado-safe shelter room and three large truck bays.

The council also:

• Approved a request from Eric Parker, with Premier Pyrotechnics, for a permit for a fireworks show to be held at Sportsman’s Lake Park on New Year’s Eve.
• Approved a written request from Ernest W. Hauk, principal of Sacred Heart School, to close First Street, S.E. beginning Thursday morning, September 30 from 9 a.m. until Monday, October 4th, to facilitate the German Festival held on Saturday, October 2.
• Approved a request from the Downtown Merchants’ Association to host the second annual Christmas parade. The event will be held on Saturday, November 13th beginning at 9:30 a.m.
• Approved a request from the Sanitation Department to install a router, upgrade a firewall, and add T1 cards to install a connection between city hall and sanitation for $6,560 from existing provider Premise, Inc. The project will put the public works annex on the city’s network for security and internet, and allow the Sanitation department inquiry onto accounts billed by the Cullman Power Board.
• Approved a request from Sue Turner to change the date of the annual Life Chain event from October 9 to October 30. This was approved by the council on July 26.
• Approved a request from Joan VonLehe, Professional Probation Services, to discuss her services being provided to Cullman Municipal Court.
• Awarded a bid for tree services on Second Ave. S.E. to Discount Tree Service in the amount of $1,150.
• Approved a tax Abatement for Keystone Automotive for an equipment purchase.
• Approved a tax abatement for Cash Acme for an equipment purchase.
• Approved a tax abatement for builder of Cash Acme from February 2010.
• Awarded a bid for tree services to Reeves and Son LLC in the amount of $725 for services on Fourth Avenue NE and First Street West.
• Awarded a bid for (7) 40-yard containers to Lewis Steel Works, Inc. of Wren, GA in the amount of $30,065.
• Awarded a bid for (10) 8-yard, (10) 6-yard, (20) 4-yard and (10) 2-yard containers to Rudco South of Easley, SC in the amount of $28,850.
• Forward an annexation request for property owned by Wade and June Bentley of 1512 Cumberland Ridge Road, NW Cullman, AL 35055 to the planning commission.
• Approved a request to take bids for an asbestos survey and abatement on the single family house on 701 Second Avenue NE. The house will be demolished by City Employees after the abatement.
• Authorized property purchase near Cullman Wellness and Aquatic Center.
• Re-appointed Michael Sullins to the CCTV Board.
• Approved $4,000 for Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood to apply for a $200,000 EPA grant for additional clean-up work at the Greif Bros. property.
• Approved a request from the Oktoberfest board to host a rock concert at Depot Park on Oct. 9.

* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.