By Trent Moore

Staff Writer

Approximately $311,000 in new capital equipment could be on the way for some city departments soon.

The Cullman city council has recently approved bid requests for a handful of big ticket items that were initially delayed due to budget concerns.

“We had held back on these capital expenditures,” Mayor Max Townson said. “But, these bids need to go out ... We went into this budget anticipating these things could be needed.”

The purchase of a new $100,000 hazardous materials truck and trailer for the fire department, a $165,000 garbage truck for the sanitation department and a $46,000 hydraulic lift for the garage department have all been sent out to bid. Prices listed are early estimates, and could rise or fall as bids are received.

Townson said the bids have been solicited now because the purchases have become more necessary as older equipment continues to show wear.

“For example, we have a garbage truck that is 17-years-old, one 14-years-old, another one 11-years-old and one that is nine-years-old,” he said. “We’re fearful for the age of some of this equipment. If something happened we don’t want to be without.”

The bids could take up to six months to be finalized, which is why the council decided to approve the measure now.

Once bids are returned and eventually approved, exactly where the money for the purchases will come from has yet to be decided.

“We’re just going to have to find the money,” Townson said. “We’ll be scratching and looking at line items to see what we can shift and do.”

Townson said the latest financial estimates show that city revenue is slightly down when compared to the previous year, which was expected considering the economic climate.

“We’re down,” he said. “Sales tax revenue is down around 3.7 percent, but by the same token our expenditures are down about that much, because we anticipated this. We’re holding our own.”

Sanitation Superintendent Delwin Kilgo said the new garbage truck would be used for residential pick-up, replacing an older vehicle.

“Some of the other trucks we’re running are getting old and not too dependable,” he said. “This will replace one of those.”

The hazardous material truck is also a current necessity, Fire Chief Mike Hackney said.

“Our hazmat truck right now is beyond the ability to repair,” he said. “It would not be fiscally responsible to try and repair it, so we’re having to replace it.”

If a hazardous material incident did occur in the interim, the city fire department would likely call on the county hazmat team for assistance.

The final bid, a mobile hydraulic lift for the garage department, is set to replace an aging lift that is becoming less functional, Garage Superintendent Mason Kugler said.

“The one we have right now is starting to wear out,” he said. “We’ve got to get it replaced.”

The council also:

‰ Approved a request from the Festhalle Market Platz committee to change the rental fee from $20 to $10 on Saturdays, which will go into effect in the 2009 season. The change brings the Saturday rental fee down to the same price as the daily rental fee. “The request is in response to comments made by both vendors and shoppers on market surveys conducted in 2007 and 2008,” Market Manager Jimmy Simms said in the official request. “The lowering of the Saturday space rental fee will not significantly impact the revenue generated from space rental fees at the market and can be seen as a positive reaction on the part of the committee and city of Cullman in the face of challenging economic times.”

‰ Approved a proclamation honoring East Elementary School and West Elementary School for being named quality schools by the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence. East Elementary has been granted Blue Ribbon accreditation, while West Elementary has been nominated for a Blue Ribbon award. West Elementary is among only five Alabama schools nominated, while East Elementary is among only four Alabama schools to receive Blue Ribbon accreditation, which is held to higher standards than regular accreditation.

‰ Approved a $61,218 change order #2 for numerous different things at the Wellness & Aquatic Center. The change order includes the addition of fixtures and furniture, a saltwater fish tank, carpet, paint and numerous other, minor needs.

‰ Approved a $1,605 request from the Waste Water Treatment Plant for the purchase of a HQ40d Meter Oxygen Probe.

‰ Approved a $5,820 request from the police department for a Ranger 4x4 utility vehicle.

‰ Approved a $1,017 request from the fire department for truck equipment from Sunbelt.

‰ Approved a $24,385 request from the fire department for portable radios and a charging station from state bid list.

‰ Approved a $21,900 request from the street department to award a bid to Victor Stanley to purchase park benches.

‰ Approved a request from the street department to award a $15,833 bid for plants and trees to Greenleaf Nursery.

‰ Approved a request from the police department for a $490 travel advance for Billy Handley to attend an “Advanced Sex Crimes Investigations” seminar in Florida.

‰ Approved a $3,500 request from Cullman Economic Development office for 100 Leeland Cyprus trees to add a “natural buffer” to make the Schuman property more marketable.

‰ Approved a request to close Third Avenue SW, between Sixth Street SW and Fifth Street SW on Feb. 2 and Feb. 3, from First Baptist Church. The closing will allow the church to erect the “roof support joist on the multipurpose room, which is part of the addition to Cullman First Baptist Church.”

‰ Approved a bid to Southeastern Telephone for digital phone service.

Approved a resolution for the mayor to enter into an agreement with St. John & Associates for services for Industrial Access Road at Cullman Industrial Park V-Lot 3.

‰ Approved the appointment of Garlan Gudger, Jr. to the NARCOG board.



‰ Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 225.