When city officials selected Flanagan Lumber Monday as the low bidder on framing materials for the new Fire Station No. 3, they said they would try to patronize local vendors throughout the construction process.

Flanagan Lumber bid $29,589.91, but Earl Glaze of the Public Works Department who is overseeing the construction with in-house labor, said the bids were close.

Companies submitting bids beside Flanagan Lumber were Collins Supply, Craig Building Supply, and Lowe’s.

“I would like to be able during the whole process to use local people whenever we can,” said Glaze. “And I want to make sure we have at least three bids before choosing someone.”

Earlier, the council approved spending $30,000 to hire the architectural firm of Krebs Associates to design the new Fire Station No. 3 located on Roy Long Road to serve Martin Luther King Industrial Park and Houston Place subdivision.

Athens Fire Chief Danny Southard said the new Station No. 3, which will be moved from its present location on Lucas Ferry Road, will have two drive-through bays and be similar in floor plan to the new Fire Station No. 2, which opened last year off Lindsay Lane.

Southard said Station No. 3 would not be as large as Station No. 2 and not have the outside aesthetics of the residentially located Station No. 2 because it is located in an industrial area.

“We’re finishing roughing in the plumbing and we’ll be pouring the slab and should be ready this week to begin framing,” said Glaze.