SCOTT CITY OPENS BIDS FOR NEW FIRE TRUCK

SCOTT CITY - The Scott City Council opened bids Monday night for a new fire truck, following recent voter approval of a quarter-cent sales tax that will fund the purchase of the truck.

Prior to opening the bids, the council had to certify the Nov. 3 election results, thereby allowing the sales tax measure to take effect the first of the year. The tax will be used solely for buying a fire truck and related equipment.

The council received bids from four manufacturing companies for the outfitting of a new truck. Pierce Manufacturing bid $231,805; Lewistown Fire Supply, parent company of Alexis Fire Equipment, bid $255,831; Quality Manufacturing Inc. bid $229,985; and Batallion III Inc. submitted a bid of $230,123.

"Due to the complexity of this kind of thing, we're not going to accept any of the bids until we can study them," said Scott City Mayor Larry Forhan.

The bids were immediately turned over to Fire Chief Les Crump by Councilman Terry Johnston, head of the council's fire department committee.

At Monday's meeting, Forhan said a major refinancing effort by the council is expected to save the city $237,000 in interest payments on bond orders. The city also plans to pay its debts a year and a half earlier than scheduled.

The council approved a measure giving the city's sanitation workers a paid vacation day on the Friday after Thanksgiving. By city ordinance, Nov. 27 is a city holiday. Workers were paid overtime for working the day after Thanksgiving in the past.

Only residential waste pickup will be suspended for the holiday; commercial pickup will be as scheduled.

Scott City residents will be notified that waste will not be collected that Friday, but instead there will be double pickup service on Nov. 30 or Dec. 1.

Council members approved a measure extending the city's agreement with Falcon Cable Television for six months.

Scott City is engaged in talks with other cable companies, trying to strike a bargain. Council members expressed dissatisfaction with Falcon's services, but said they had no choice in approving the matter.

"We've got to approve this," Forhan told the council. "(Falcon) is threatening to discontinue service to the whole area."

But Councilwoman Brenda Moyers wasn't happy with her service. "The rates are going up in January and the service is down," Moyers said.

Other members echoed Moyers' dissent, but said that all they can do is continue negotiations with other cable companies.

The council also had mixed emotions about a proposed firing range scheduled to be built near the city lagoons. Members were wary of meeting state and local restrictions and liability requirements for safety.

A public hearing will be scheduled to obtain citizen input, officials said.

Carolyn Tinsley was appointed to the temporary position of assistant city clerk. Tinsley will work seven hours a day, six days per month, aiding Clerk Nona Walls in her duties.

Councilman John Rogers Jr., was appointed by Forhan to head a streets committee to oversee the development, funding and eventual initiation of a street repair plan.

Rogers said the poor condition of city streets needs to be addressed before winter takes its toll on the roads.