Spring Break week in Dade County was reflected by the attendance of Thursday’s regularly scheduled April meeting of the Dade County Board of Commissioners, with Commissioners Philip Hartline and General Bob Woods absent, as well as a scant complement of audience both online and in-person.
Agenda items were light as well, with two ongoing topics again deferred until the May meeting.
Chairman Don Townsend says County Attorney Robin Rogers has redrawn new Fire & EMS service agreements with the county’s seven volunteer fire departments. But Townsend wanted the Fire Chiefs representing each department to review the new language added as requested, before adding the new contract to the consent agenda for next session.
Townsend also tabled the adoption of a new storm shelter policy regarding animals, In a brief synopsis of the new policy, Townsend says only “aide animals” will be allowed inside a shelter, but not those considered either “companion animals” or pets.
In board business, a $44,980 purchase order was approved for 29 new rifles and requisite soft plates for the Dade County Sheriff’s Department.
Dade County Major Tommy Bradford told the board that due to the department’s current shortfall of ten rifles, some deputies have had to resort to using personal weaponry in certain instances.
The rifles purchase will be paid by SPLOST funds.
Commissioners also approved a $61,845 purchase order for a new Ford multi-use truck for the maintenance department, also utilizing SPLOST funds.
Conversely, the board also declared a 1998 GrassHopper lawn mower as surplus property, it’s soon bound for auction at govdeals.com.
On the topic of surplus property, Chairman Townsend revealed that Trenton Telephone Company was the lone and winning bidder to buy the old public defender’s office,located at 129 Case Street.
The board unanimously approved the $100,000 purchase price for the building. Townsend said he’ll readily accept the “gift price” given by the company.
Commissioner Bill Pullen gave credit to the Public Works Department for 406 truckloads of dirt fill, dropped at the animal control facility construction site, noting the fine job workers have done in grading and preparing the building site. Chairman Townsend noted the county’s past purchase of a chert pit has been instrumental in site preparation for the facility.
The board is welcoming the community to attend the long-awairited ribbon cutting to the Historic Dade Courthouse.
Townsend says installing one light fixture is all that’s left to the lengthy rehabilitation project that’s been years in the making. Tenants such as Alliance for Dade, IDA and the Dade Water Authority have already begun moving into the updated office units.
A formal dedication of the Courthouse will be later this year, but the ribbon-cutting and official opening is set for Wednesday, April 16th at 2:30pm.
By Vince Lennon