Century OKs new vehicles

Replacing old trucks

Monday night, Nov. 18, the Century Council approved the purchase of two new trucks, one for the street department and one as a meter reader truck, and to replace a 1997 truck and 2004 Ford Ranger with 144,000 miles on it, in the amount of $54,535.

The two trucks recommended by Interim City Manager Buz Eddy for purchase are a 2020 Ram 1500 Tradesman for the meter reader to cost $19,793 and a 2020 Ram 2500 Tradesman for the street department to cost $34,742. The Ram 2500 Tradesman will be equipped with a nine-foot long utility bed. Both trucks will come from Garber Fleet Sales in Green Cove Springs, Fla. per state contract. The funds to purchase the trucks will come from the local option sales tax trust fund, which is budgeted at $50,000, and specific about what the funds can be spent on.

In a motion made by Councilman Luis Gomez and seconded by Councilwoman Sandra McMurray Jackson, the motion carried.

In other business, the council approved:

-A mutual aid agreement (pending legal review) with Central Water Works when the town has water issues to assure water flow to the residents of Century.

-Consideration of an interconnection supply agreement with Central Water Works, recommended by Florida Rural Water, in case the town's water booster pump station at the prison becomes inoperable, which would cost $70,000 to $75,000. Eddy agreed to research a possible qualification for a grant and report back to the council at the next council meeting. It would cost the town about $2.50 per 1,000 gallons.

-A single-purpose audit by Warren Averett Audit Services, required to qualify for grants, which will cost an additional $7,500 to the $30,000 fee, possibly negotiated down by CPA Robert Hudson and to be paid for with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. A single-purpose audit has to be performed when a town receives a certain amount of funds from grants.