Tattnall County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Walt Rogers presented several bids for a new 3000-gallon tanker pumper (fire truck) to the Tattnall County Commissioners at their meeting on Monday, July 11, 2022.
The low bid was approved from Fouts Bros. for $330, 281. Other bids were $335,254 from Ten-8 and $346,486 from Midwest Fire.
However, funds are available: $101,000 from the 2014 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST); $160,000 appropriated in the 2020 SPLOST; and the remainder in American Recovery funds from COVID.
“This new fire truck will also help our ISO rating, which relates directly to savings on insurance premiums for our citizens. We are striving for a 5 rating for the county, and these upgrades at our fire stations, too, should help us,” Rogers said.
A request to solicit motor grader bids was granted to Road Superintendent Lynn Cribbs, and he will begin working on this process. He was advised by Caterpillar because of supply delays to begin the process a year in advance.
The City of Collins was granted its request to utilize the aid of County Engineer Dennis Odom in coordinating with various organizations to address the flooding area in Collins.
The commissioners were also presented with an increase request in the Circuit Wide Public Defender Program Expenses. Although the county officials had already approved this budget, an increase from the county of $587 per month ($7044 for the year) was requested, which they approved. This budget is prorated among the six counties served in the Atlantic Judicial Circuit.
In closing, the request to surplus vehicles was approved as follows: 2005 Ford F150, 2016 Dodge Charger, and 2003 Ford F150.