Vidalia Council OKs Multiple Purchases
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The Vidalia City Council has approved several purchases for various City departments, totaling $134,791.45, which will be funded mostly through the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST). The action was taken at the Council’s October 11 session.
The airport will use funding from its operations budgets to purchase a replacement HVAC unit for one airport hangar and to repair another hangar. The Council agreed to pay Rivers AC & Heat a total of $4,656 to replace the HVAC unit in one of the hangars. The Council also agreed to contract Hollis Construction to complete several repairs on one airport hangar; the repairs will cost $25,830 and will begin as soon as possible. The total cost for airport hangar purchases totals $30,604 and will be paid from the airport’s budget.
The airport fire truck, known as the AARF truck, will receive several supplies from these purchases, including 530 gallons of foam at a cost of $9,839.21 from Ten-8; and a Holmatro Rescue Combination Tool at a cost of $13,577 from Georgia Fire & Rescue Supply, which is the authorized dealer for this product in the area.
Council members approved equipping the AARF truck with ICOM portable radio and a H-1020- Headset and push-totalk switch for $747.49 total. This radio, headset, and switch will be provided by Sporty’s Dot Com Radios, which Airport Manager Billy Ragan recommended because of the company’s experience with and understanding of airport traffic.
The Council approved the purchase of a bulk of equipment for the AARF truck at a cost of $2,504.65 from NAFECO. These supplies include a ground ladder, 2 ½” hoses, a hydrant/ spanner set, a skin penetrator/ agent applicator, 100’ of utility rope, non-wedge type crash axes, a fire-resistant blanket, bolt cutters, flashlights, harness cutting tools, a salvage tool, and a 4-pound hammer. In addition to these purchases, City Manager Overstreet shared that the Vidalia Airport had been granted $2.2 million to complete slab replacement for the runway. This project will begin in Summer 2022.
Fire Department Purchases
The purchase of several pieces of equipment and supplies was approved for the Vidalia Fire Department. Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), which includes a face mask, mask bag, and spare cylinder, was approved for purchase at $6,076 from Fire Line, Inc. Two 2.5” x 50’ hoses and ten 1.75” x 50’ hoses from Ten-8 were approved for purchased at a total of $1,409.54. A similar bulk equipment purchase was approved for the fire department brush truck. This purchase costs $1,856.57 and will be provided by Ten-8. This equipment includes a flat-head axe, a pick-head axe, a fire rake, a bolt cutter, a hydrant/ spanner set with holder, a chainsaw gas can, a woodland shovel, a ratchet strap, a tow chain with hooks, a Pulaski axe, a drip torch with bracket, a 150’ forestry hose, and a backpack sprayer. The brush truck was also approved for a 56” light bar, handheld siren/ light controller, speaker, mounting brackets, and mounting straps from Hub Communications, which currently has the maintenance contract on this equipment. This purchase will cost $2,099 total. All purchases approved for the fire department, including those for the AARF truucl, come to a $38,109.57 total, which will be paid for with SPLOST funds.
Annual Audit Report
Certified Public Accountant and McLain, Calhoun, McCullough, Clark, & Co., P.C. Partner Nicki Eason shared her findings on the Fiscal Year 2020 Audit. Eason stated that all findings were positive except for Department of Water and Sewer Revenues. “Water and sewer are not sustaining themselves,” she explained as she urged the city government to seek solutions to resolve this issue.
Other Purchases
Council members unanimously approved the removal and replacement of existing playground equipment at the park on Lewis and Church Streets. Two bids were received: one from PlaySouth, which totaled $46,740, and one from GameTime, which totaled $51,736.68. Although the GameTime bid was higher, the Recreation Board recommends this bid because of the possible increase in liability associated with PlaySouth’s monkey bar option, and because of the past benevolent relationship with the company’s installation of equipment at the Ed Smith Complex. The purchase of automatic flushing apparatus to continue to combat the City’s brown water issue was also unanimously approved by the Council. Six Eclipse 9700 Hydrant Flusher Units from Ferguson Waterworks were approved to be purchased. This equipment will cost $10,536 and will be installed by the ESG. Eight Rainbird Flusher Units were approved to be purchased at $190.40 each, totaling $1,523.20. These units will also be installed by ESG department. The Council approved the repair of the fence at the Seventh Street Pond at a cost of $2,400 by Security Fence, a Vidalia company which provided the lowest bid.
Other News
According to Overstreet, a total of 6.93 tons of tires were picked up throughout tire amnesty week. ESG Project Manager Tony Hall announced that the City of Vidalia has earned the CCR award, which is given by the Georgia Association of Water Professionals. This award recognizes the quality of water and relationship between the public and the ESG department. City Marshal Shaun Oliver informed the Council that two duplex permits had been granted in September, as well as a permit for a new car wash.
