By: Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Grayson City Council discussed the proposed purchase of a new fire truck at their regular June meeting. The city had been awarded $400,000 from the state of Kentucky to go toward that purchase, and the council discussed the finalization and particulars of that purchase. The updated quote provided to the council by Grayson Fire Chief Greg Felty came in at $1,039,000.
“It would appear the price has been reduced by around $100,000,” Grayson Mayor Troy Combs told the council.
Chief Felty told the council that he would like to add the purchase of a fire hose to that quote.
“It is $16,000 for the hose we need,” Felty said. “And I don’t think that will make a big difference on the payment of the truck. If you are going to borrow $500,000, then another $16,000 won’t make much of a difference. That would be 1,200 feet of 5-inch hose.”
Councilwoman Jennifer Scott told the council she had an issue with the sales commission added into the price of the new vehicle.
“Does every company do this?” Scott asked. “Does no company allow you to sell direct?”
Scott said she did not know if the question of sales commission had been researched as much as she believed it should be.
Combs said he had discussed the purchase of the fire apparatus with the dealer in question and had been able to finalize the purchase price, resulting in that price being reduced.
“And there are some downpayment options that might get us another discount,” Combs said.
He also said that he would look into the sales commission issue as well as have the city attorney look into it as well.
The city council did not approve the purchase at the meeting, but Chief Felty requested that the price of the hose be accepted into the final purchase. Given the length of time required for delivery of the truck once purchased (several months at least) Felty said that adding the hose would not affect that delivery time and could simply be added on during the process. Purchasing and installing the hose after the fact, he said, would extend the time required before it could be put into service.
During discussion on the proposed purchase, Councilman Bradley Cotten said that local lending institutions had offered favorable interest, and Felty said it would be preferrable to borrow money locally if possible. It was agreed to add in the purchase of the fire hose to the quote, but both the mayor and the council decided it would be better to consult budgets – a loan would affect both the city and the fire department’s budgets – before making any final determination on the purchase.
In other old business, Combs reminded council that since the city had been without an attorney they had been unable to draft any resolution concerning the proposed change in speed on two city streets, Landsdowne and College.
In new business the council discussed the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
“Some of the department budgets have been incorporated into the budget, for instance the fire department’s budget,” Combs told the council. “The police department budget was provided as well.”
Combs said it would not be possible to work out everything to finalize the city budget at the June meeting, but providing the council with the larger budgets such as fire and police would allow them to begin working toward a final budget. Combs proposed some workshops during the last weeks of the month, then the calling of special meetings for the required two readings of the budget before voting on it.
Before adjourning council went into executive session, but no action was taken. After returning from executive session, Combs recommended to the council that police sergeant Kyle Smith be promoted to the rank of assistant police chief. Smith was promoted to that rank by unanimous vote of the council.
In other business, Combs informed the council that a resident had requested speed bumps be installed on Malone Lane. Combs said he took the petition himself, and the majority of residents were in favor of speed bumps in both directions at a curve on that road near Malone Funeral Home. The council voted to approve the installation of the speed bumps and voted to restore the speed bumps that had previously been installed but later removed on Maplewood Lane.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
