JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Members of Whitwell’s Board of Mayor & Commissioners recently gave the thumbs up for the purchase of fireworks for upcoming Labor Day festivities, in addition to a new window for a city-owned tractor.
During this month’s annual meeting, City Mayor Sandra Crabtree presented an agenda item to approve the purchase of fireworks for Labor Day coming up . According to city manager Lonnie Cleek, the city budgets $3,000 every year for the purchase of fireworks for every Labor Day holiday. All members of the board ultimately approved the purchase, just in time for the city’s brand new Labor Day festivities coming soon at the end of the month.
When discussion ensued regarding the tractor window, Cleek explained one of the windows to a city-owned tractor broke while lawn maintenance for city property was done. He stated as the mover was being used, it picked up and threw an object towards the enclosed driver’s cab, causing it to smash through and shatter the protective window of the cab. The city reached out to Chattanooga Tractor, a major dealership from Chattanooga, was reached out to for a quote on a new window. The estimate received was $2,500 to install and replace the old window with the new one, with the tractor unable to be used until the new window is installed.
“We’re unable to use the tractor. For its just sitting there without this window installed,” stated Cleek.
Mayor Sandra Crabtree asked Lonnie if the tractor is insured. He replied an insurance agent was called in to inspect the damage done before a decision to submit the quote was made. When Commissioner David Hudson questioned where the money used to purchase the window will be budgeted out of, city recorder Carol Condra stated the funds would come out of repair funds from the city.
Both agenda items were given the go ahead by the city council, with the tractor to receive a brand new window, while fireworks are now ready to be used during Labor Day this year.