DECATUR TOWNSHIP - Decatur firefighters could be nearing the end of a long wait to move into their new fire station.

"The best guess for me is - at least what I anticipate - is less than a month. This is provided that building inspectors are available when we need them. We are working with a lot of schedules and some, we have no control over," said David Michael, Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization Director of Special Projects .

Michael, who recently took on the fire station as an assignment, said the electrical work on the building has been approved. The plumbing for the building was scheduled for an inspection Wednesday.

A structural inspection can be scheduled once a few remaining issues are complete. That list includes designation of handicapped parking space, completion of a walkway, installation of signage outside and handicapped accessibility equipment in one of the two restrooms.

"It's been a tough project for various reasons," Michael said. "First there was the site issue. The first site was chosen and then it was determined the subsoil was unsuitable and then there have just been numerous issues.

"But I think we will end up with a product that everyone can be proud of."

The construction snags have padded the final price tag by approximately $40,000 and have pushed the completion date back by approximately a year.

The fire station, paid for with grant monies, was originally projected to cost $200,000. Now it will likely cost $240,000.

While Lawrence County Commissioners and Decatur Township trustees have contributed some money toward the final price tag, Michael said one issue remaining is who will pick up the tab for the estimated $12,000- 13,000 in cost overruns left to be paid.

Ground was broken on the fire station in late 2002.