The new mayor is sporting a a new ride, a used Dodge Dakota extended cab pickup truck, part of a campaign promise to replace a vehicle classified as a luxury SUV that he said he felt uncomfortable driving.
Actually, the city purchased two used pickup trucks after aldermen on Aug. 4 declared a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe surplus property.
Mayor James A. Young is now riding in the 2008 Dodge Dakota that seats up to six.
A 2005 Dodge Ram was purchased for the fire department as part of the trade-in.
The two trucks were purchased from Griffis Motors in Philadelphia in an even exchange for the Tahoe, which was valued at $23,303.27, Young said.
According to the State Auditor's web site, Section 21-17-1 of the state code allows municipal boards or councils to dispose of personal property and it is up to them to develop reasonable disposal policies that assure a fair price is received.
Despite encouragement from some aldermen last month to continue driving the SUV to promote the city, Young said he traded the
vehicle in because of a campaign promise to be more frugal.
"I think we got a good deal," he said. "My truck gets better gas mileage and it's more functional for me. If I need to pick something up, I can just put in the back of the truck."
Young said the Dodge Ram would be an asset to the fire department as well.
"It'll help the fire department serve the city better," he said.
During his campaign for mayor, Young said he heard consistently from voters about the Tahoe the previous administration purchased for nearly $30,000.
The former Mayor and Board of Aldermen purchased the Tahoe in June 2007 for $29,990.
The Tahoe replaced a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer.
The Tahoe bid specifications listed a V8 engine, CD/MP3 player, and a remote vehicle starter prep package, among other accessories. The vehicle had a manufacturer's retail price of $35,990.
Young told aldermen at his first meeting that he would like to downsize and hopefully get two vehicles for the price of one.
"I just appreciate the board allowing us to exchange the Tahoe," he said.
"It was just not me."
In other action last week, aldermen:
• Employed Wade Atkins as patrolman first class effective Aug. 5.
• Appointed Brittany Vallas, Robert Barfield, Kyle P. James, and Daniel Haggard as auxiliary officers with the police department effective Aug. 5.
• Paid Waggoner Engineering $1,309.50 for work done at airport.
• Paid Jim Perry $3,300 for architectural services on the depot project.
• Approved the payment of the monthly claims.
• Increased the salary of police investigator Gordon Atkins by 48 cents an hour.
• Set the annual salary of the new assistant chief of police at $40,200.
• Purchased the transmission on a 2007 Ford Crown Victoria for $1,712 from New South Ford.
• Took bids under advisement for a parking lot for the new senior citizens center.
• Appointed Tom Wallace Cox as city engineer effective Aug. 5.
• Passed a resolution authorizing the city to apply for a grant for a new water tank in west Philadelphia.
• Purchased a 60-inch Kubota Z mower for the cemetery department from Windham Tractor for $12,500.
• Reappointed Alice Rowe to a five-year term on the historical museum board. Other members are William Hamill, Pat Alford and Tim Croswell.
• Granted a variance to Neshoba County to allow a 50-feet buffer around the new landfill rather than the normal 150 feet.
