City purchases van to transport prisoners to Louisville
A 12-passenger $26,500 van to transport city prisoners to jail in Winston County has been approved.
Mayor James A. Young said the larger van would cut down the number of trips police officers are making to jail facility north of Louisville. The city houses prisoners in Winston County.
Philadelphia Police Chief Eric Lyons said the van is a 2020 model Chevrolet Express but it is still new. It would be purchased under state contract for the $26,500. The motion passed. Aldermen then amended the budget to pay for the van.
In other actions, aldermen voted to:
• Accept the retirement notice of Street Department Director Rex Savell, effective Oct. 29. Aldermen later met in executive session to discuss Savell’s replacement. No vote was taken. Aldermen also accepted the resignation of Truman Turner, effective Oct. 21.
• Approve putting gravel on Park Side Drive to begin the process of improving that road. Park Side Drive was annexed into the city in 2004. It was recently brought the board’s attention no improvements have been made to the road since the annexation.
• Approve hiring Matt Boatner Construction to build a new break room at the East Central Community College Diesel Mechanics School here at the cost of $4,760.
• Approve to allow the city to get quotes to improve the area around a dangerous railroad cross on Ivy Street. Young wants to cut down hills on both sides that block the view of oncoming train traffic.
• Aldermen discussed unkept properties and turned in addresses to the City Clerk. This will be passed on the building official’s office and letters will be sent out.
• Approve travel costs for officer Justin Wyatt who will be traveling to Abbeville, Louisiana, to train with the city’s new K-9 officer.
• Approve the purchase of a 2021 Dodge Durango for the Police Department from Mac Haik of Jackson under state contract for $29,000. The purchase is being paid for by drug seizure monies. Lyons also updated aldermen about the status of the Police Department’s communications being moved to the county’s 911 center.
• Accept the resignation of Chris Allen from the Fire Department.
• Aldermen discussed unkept properties and junk cars. Some turned in addresses of those in violation to the City Clerk. This will be passed on the Building Official’s Office and letters will be sent out.
• Aldermen took no action on bids to replace the heating and cooling systems at the East Central Community Action Agency on Atkins. Aldermen Justin Clearman suggested seeing if putting air conditioning splits up would save the city money. He and the mayor plan to visit the site before the next meeting.