The Brundidge City Council gave its nod to a request by the Brundidge Volunteer Fire Department to apply for a FEMA grant that would provide funds for a new fire truck for the department.

City Manager Britt Thomas said the city’s grant writer indicated that the City would have a better chance by applying for an equipment grant for the volunteer fire department. However, Thomas said Fire Chief Glen Adkins said the department needs a new fire truck.

“The FEMA grant, if awarded, would not be enough to purchase the truck,” Thomas said. “The City would have to fund any amount over the grant award and that is estimated at $85,000. But to be able to get a $400,000 fire truck for $85,000 would still be a good deal.”

Thomas said the new fire truck would put two fire trucks with less than two years mileage in city’s fire station and those trucks should serve the city for quite a few years.

The Council was unanimous in its agreement to provide the funds not covered in the grant in support of the fire chief’s request.

The Council also declared three city work trucks, a 1998 and two 2001s, surplus. The surplus trucks will be sold on gov.deal. Thomas said the trucks had served the city well. The city recently purchased three trucks for the city’s water and sewer and electric departments. The 2008 truck has 27,000 miles and the two 2010 trucks have 34,000 and 43,000 miles. The cost of the trucks was $39,500.

The trucks were displayed at City Hall during the Council meeting.

Thomas reviewed the city’s financials for the year 2014 with the Council. The year ended with the City in the black and Thomas said he was pleased with “the way things turned out.”

The Council set the holiday schedule for city employees for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. The employees will have Thursday and Friday off for Thanksgiving. For Christmas, they will get a half-day off on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and the Friday after. Employees will get New Year’s Day off but will return to work on Friday.

Thomas said oral arguments will be heard in the City’s (landfill) case with Brundidge Acquisitions at 4 p.m. Thursday at the Enterprise Courthouse. The City will then wait on the ruling from Judge Thomas Head.