Lynn purchases $32,000 dump truck

LYNN - A recent trip through Tennessee has proven beneficial to the Town of Lynn, as a dump truck was seen for sale and recently purchased.

With all voting in favor except for Bruce Odom, the council passed a motion Monday, April 15, at the scheduled town meeting to purchase the dump truck at a price of $32,000, sold by Rick Elmore of Tennessee.

It is a 2012 International dump truck with 11 foot, six inch dump bed (new in 2018), with electric tarp, electric tailgate and air brakes. It has 460,000 miles.

“Like all dump trucks, it has a lot of miles,” Mayor Jeff Stokes said. “It will take us 20 years to put 10,000 miles on it.”

A new dump truck, similar in nature would cost $120,000 to $150,000, it was noted.

The decision to purchase it was tabled at the previous meeting on March 21, due to not knowing if there were service records available and having concerns on the motor. Alan Barnett made the motion to table, with Odom seconding.

“In lieu of the miles, we need to know a little bit more information,” Barnett said.

To go with the dump truck, all were in favor of purchasing a trailer from Winston Trailers in the amount of $11,983.

The dump truck is to be paid out of the general account, while the trailer will come from the water department account.

In other business on April 15, all council members were in favor of purchasing a new set of tires for the 2014 Chevy Tahoe police department vehicle. Also approved was a transfer of funds from the fire department savings account to the fire department checking account in the amount of $457. This money will be used to purchase, and the labor to install, a starter for the 1997 Spartan fire truck.

In old business, $8,719 was approved on Thursday, March 21, to purchase a Cub Cadet lawnmower from Artec. Barnett made a motion to approve the amount, with Tommy Chambless giving a second, and the motion carried.

Also on March 21, the batting cage at the Lynn Ballfield was approved to be enclosed. All were in favor except for Mayor Stokes.

"I wish we wouldn’t,” Stokes said. “If a daddy wanted to take his kid and hit some softballs or baseballs, unless you’re a coach, you won’t have access to it any more.”

The price to enclose the batting cage is $4,500.

“I’ve talked to a lot of different people,” Council Member Earl Gilbert said. “Everybody I talked to thought it would be best to close it in.”

Full time employees were approved to have a fifty cent increase in pay per hour, with the exception of Kris Gray, water clerk, who will get $1.50 per hour increase.

The next town meeting will be Monday, May 20, at 6 p.m. at the old town hall.