The city of Rincon has started the one-year warranty period for its newest fire station.

City Council members approved a change order for Nicky Powell Construction, for $6,201, and they also approved a final pay request and releasing the 10 percent retainage. In all, the change order and retainage totaled $15,391.39, and the city also released the 10 percent bid bond of $9,130.06

“He did a nice job on it,” City Manager Wesley Corbitt said.

The city has been using the station, built off Blue Jay Road in conjunction with a fire service agreement with Effingham County.

Corbitt said the city also was getting pricing on asphalt. The overall price of the project was $98,017.11. Rincon Fire Chief Corey Rahn is expected to put in the septic system needed for the station, about $5,000-$7,000 worth of work.

The cost estimate for the entire station was approximately $120,000.

“Hopefully, it will come in close to that,” Corbitt said.

Council members also approved releasing the 10 percent bid bond of $9,130.06 back to Nicky Powell Construction. Corbitt explained the city held the bid bond because it was a short-term project.

Council members also approved the first reading of amendments to the city’s nuisance ordinances.

“We have talked for several months about making changes for code enforcement,” city planner Lameisha Kelly said.

The changes address such things as waste matter and cooking oil put into the city’s sewer system or into the streets.

The ordinance amendments also cover plant growth and vegetation in yards. Kelly said the city wanted to give property owners time to curtail the growth in case of heavy rain that leads to higher grass.

“People have a right if they want to grow high shrubs,” Kelly said, “but the issue is when public safety needs to get into the house and get somebody out, so it doesn’t block the windows and doorways.”

Council members may look at establishing a difference between lots that have been ignored and become overgrown, and lots that have been cleared of trees, with some vegetation left remaining.

The city also wants to make sure addresses for homes and businesses, especially for 911 calls, are visible.

“That’s something we have to continue to work on,” Kelly said.

She added another issue the city has is vegetation regrowing on lots that were cleared previously.

Another problem, Kelly pointed out, is pets on the loose using a neighboring yard to relieve their digestive systems.

“So we addressed that directly,” she said.

Also, some residents aren’t retrieving their garbage carts from the roadway.