The Jefferson city council at its Nov. 26 regular meeting approved an application from the Jefferson fire department to FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters grant program.
Fire chief Jack Williams told the council that the 1994 truck, the oldest in the fleet, failed being certified. He sought bids on a truck identical to one purchased in 2014 and learned the price had increased from $280,000 to $465,000.
The FEMA grant could fund up to 95 percent of the cost of the truck. The council approved a resolution authorizing the needed 5 percent match from city funds.
FEMA has $291.6 million available in the program and anticipates awarding 2,000 grants. The application deadline is Dec. 20.
The council held a public hearing as required on the second story project at 100 E. State St, above The Centennial. Karla Janning of Region XII Council of Governments reported the project is 53 percent complete and 43 percent of the grant funds awarded have been used. The date for substantial completion is Dec. 31, 2024.
The council received two proposals for videography services at council meetings: Sebourn Video Services at $200 per meeting, and Art of Aries at $260 per meeting. The council accepted the finance committee’s recommendation to accept Sebourn Video Services’ proposal.
Sebourn has provided videography services at council meetings for three years, with a contract only in the past year. The rate was $250 per meeting for those three years.
During his quarterly status report, Ken Paxton, director of Greene County Development Corporation, reported that GCDC and the city of Jefferson are working with a developer from Carroll to sell three lots in the east business park, two of them being frontage lots near Fairview Veterinary Clinic. A pair of 10,000 sq ft buildings would be constructed there to house new small businesses. When they’re complete, a grant application could be submitted to build a road in the northern potion of the east business park.
The city council cancelled its regular meeting the fourth Tuesday in December, as that’s Christmas Eve. The council will hold a special meeting Tuesday, Dec. 3, for planning and review of a draft capital improvements plan.
