The old saying goes, If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The county decided to do that very thing at this week’s regular commission meeting when it came to the purchase of a new front end loader for the road department.
The commission voted to purchase two pieces of equipment for the road department – a backhoe and a front end loader. Since Hurricane Helene, the county has been renting a Sany 405K loader. Commissioners decided to go ahead and purchase that same loader instead of buying a new one. The purchase price is $155,000. The county can apply the rental payments to the price tag, which is a net of $130,000 with a three-year warranty left. “My recommendation is we purchase the machine we’ve already got,” said county administrator Wesley Vickers, adding that the county hasn’t had any problems with the loader since they’ve had it. Perry Brothers Equipment Company is the vendor.
The county also approved the purchase of a Caterpillar 430 backhoe from Yancey Brothers for $145,156. The machine comes with a five-year warranty.
Commissioners also approved the following:
- A contract with Henry Medders to perform mobile home inspections and meter base inspection services for $90/mobile home inspection and $50/meter base inspection. The contract is for one year;
- An agreement for engineering services with Statewide Engineering for the 2025 LMIG road improvement projects;
- A contract with East Coast Asphalt, the low bidder, for performing the 2025 LMIG work;
- An alcohol license for Kartik Patel at Quick Change of Baymeadows;
- The brush spraying contract with Bristow LLC. The contract is for $40,000/100 miles of road;
- 40 sets of turnout gear for the fire department from AEST Fire Safety for $147,070 and 40 helmets from Bennett Fire Products for $15,940; and
- The county held the first reading of a rezoning request from Kayla Sellers for 5.39 acres at 5547 Fitzgerald Highway in Broxton from AG, Agriculture to PD, Planned Development. Sellers plans to build a barndeminium that will serve as a quilting retreat. Rooms inside will be rented to visitors. The property is located next to DeBerry Baptist Church and across the road from DJ’s Steak and Seafood. The county will hold a second reading and take a vote on the request at the May meeting.