Hernando aldermen move forward on ambulance purchase
Photo credit: City of Hernando Fire Department on Facebook
Among items addressed at the Hernando Board of Aldermen meeting this week was the approval to move ahead with the purchase of a third ambulance for the city. A bid process for the vehicle, which was included in the city budget, was approved on a unanimous vote.
According to the fire department, when the ambulance goes into service, it will be housed with Engine #1 at Fire Station #1, the station where the city’s fire and EMS were originally housed and responded from.
Two new stations have since been built with city growth and a second ambulance was put into service over five years ago.
It’s expected it will still be about 18 months before the new ambulance begins serving Hernando residents.
Among other items approved at the meeting of Tuesday, Nov. 21, a proclamation was approved declaring Nov. 24 as the 65th birthday of Hernando Central High School. A ceremony was held at the school location, which is now Oak Grove Central Elementary School, on Friday, Nov. 24.
A hiring of a second school resource officer was approved for Hernando Middle School and the school district will provide the city $60,000 to cover the cost of the added police officer.
The addition will bring to seven school resource officers for Hernando schools, including two at Hernando High School.
Bids for the Kuykendall Park restroom project were rejected in favor of a redesign of the specifications and advertise for a quote or new bid opening date.
“We were trying to use the old concessions as bathrooms and the quotes came in super high the first time,” said Mayor Chip Johnson. “So we put it out for bids and they came in super high. The contractors said they could build us a brand new one cheaper than they could redo that one.”
Johnson said they would try to put it together where it would cost less than $75,000, meaning only quotes would be needed instead of bids. The budget line item allowed for $100,000 but the initial bids came in higher than that, with one bid over $200,000.
The old building would be torn down at a cost of no more than $2,000 for dumpster rental.
Discussion was also held with aldermen about a possible adoption of a future ordinance to allow golf carts on city streets in accordance with state statute. City officials, including the police chief, will look into the issue with a proposed ordinance coming at a future meeting.
