Fannin County commissioners agreed to purchase a trackhoe, reappointed Zack Ratcliff to the water authority, and tabled bids for a new radio console for the 911 Center.
Ratcliff presented the need for a trackhoe for the Public Works department, saying the county is “just about out of equipment” to pick up downed trees. The current trackhoe is about a 2004 model with 7,000 hours that is “costing us money to use,” he said.
Ratcliff said he had located a 2019 model with 194 hours, which includes some remaining warranty, for $57,700, about $10,000 less than the cost of a new model.
Understanding a trackhoe is used daily by the department, commissioners approved the purchase unanimously.
Commissioners opened bids for a new radio console for the 911 Center with offers ranging from $127,565 to $308,611.72. The lowest bid offered a Telex system while the highest, along with two other bids received, offered a Zetron system.
Patrick Cooke, deputy director for EMA/911, asked the commissioners to “give us some time to go through it and make sure they are all equal.”
Commissioners agreed to his request.
Cooke later explained the radio console currently being used, a Motorola system, has reached the end of its life. The Motorola shop can no longer get parts to repair it.
Cooke said that system has been in use for 15 years, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. “We have gotten a lot of use out of it.”
Cooke said EMA officials have seen a Zetron system demonstration and will be seeing a Telex system demonstrated this week as they look for the best recommendation to make to the commissioners for a purchase.
The bid opening and other action taken by the commissioners came during their regular meeting Tuesday, May 11, at the courthouse in Blue Ridge.