Bernie approves truck purchase

The purchase of the utility truck had been discussed at the past two aldermen meetings with City Superintendent Charles Dean presenting some estimates on the cost. The old truck was in need of replacement due to high mileage and maintenance. Dean presented an estimate of $20,302.49 for the truck with an additional cost of $6,100 for the utility bed at the October meeting.

The price presented to the aldermen Tuesday night was $24,586 from Autry Morlan Chevrolet in Dexter. Dean said the truck would be available for pick-up on Thursday. Mayor James Tilmon noted that the price was for a 3/4 ton, 2-wheel drive truck with service bed.

Aldermen Butch Barnes asked, "Are we going to keep all the vehicles we have?"

Dean stated, "Yes, for now, but we may want to look at selling something later."

The aldermen voted 6-0 to purchase the truck with all aldermen present.

Tilmon asked the aldermen to approve the purchase of a 60KW generator from the State Surplus Agency "if they have one available." The cost of the generator would be $4,165. The city has already purchased a 200 KW generator and two 60KW generators. The larger generator will be used to operate the city water treatment plant in the event of a power outage. The two smaller ones are mobile and can be used for water pumps, lift stations and other city utility needs.

Tilmon said the additional generator could be used wherever it is needed. It could be used at emergency shelters or for utility needs.

"I would say this is a good idea," said Alderman Ivan Mekan. He noted that during the 2009 ice storm and subsequent prolonged power outage the city had to lease a generator.

Mekan made the motion to approve the purchase, and it was approved by a 6-0 vote.

Tilmon presented the aldermen with two bids for a 12' X 12' concrete pad to be constructed at the water treatment plant to provide a pad for the new generator. Starnes Construction submitted a bid of $1,800 for the pad and Jack Meese submitted a bid of $2,300. Both were for six-inch thick concrete pads with rebar.

Barnes made a motion to give the contract to the lowest bidder, Starnes, and it passed by a 6-0 vote.

In final action the board approved hiring Malden Roofing Company to repair a leak in the City Administration Building at an estimated cost of $1,790.

Tilmon said the leak is along the front wall of the building and that Malden Roofing would make repair along the entire wall and patch the roof.

Aldermen Todd Young suggested they contact the Historical Society to see if funding might be available to help with the cost of repairs since the building is one of the historic structures in the downtown area.

"It needs to be fixed right now," Mekan stated. "We might could look at that down the road."

Mekan said water running down the wall would cause more serious problems with the particle board underneath the covering.

Barnes said he wanted to make sure the contractor "understood everything" so that there were no future problems with the roof leaking.

The aldermen approved hiring Malden Roofing to repair the roof at an estimated cost of $1,790.