The city of Crawford has added a new Ford F-150 to its fleet, a purchase made through federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
The city spent $37,245 on the truck, which will be used for daily operations of the water department.
“(The) city definitely needed a new truck,” Mayor Seavy O’Neal said. “Both of our trucks are over 20 years old, and one of them is well beyond that.”
Because the expenditure was from federal funds instead of the city’s budget, the purchase had to be made before the end of the year.
The F-150 is a 2024 model, adding to the city’s fleet alongside an older F-150 and a F-250. All trucks remain functional, despite their age, and will continue to be in service.
Crawford, like other municipalities, received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act based on population. O’Neal said the city has allocated funds for future projects, including the fire department.
At its Tuesday meeting, the Crawford City Council discussed a lapsed wastewater treatment plant permit.
Chris Thomas said the city submitted a permit application 2½ years ago, which was six months before the previous permit expired.
Due to state-level backlogs, the city has been able to operate under the expired permit with state approval. A draft of the new permit has been issued, though it requires public comment for final approval.
“There are some changes to it, which means we will need to purchase more chemicals to meet the new requirements,” Thomas said. “But we have three years to plan and budget for it, so it is under control.”
The council also discussed a proposed procurement policy, which aims to regulate purchases made with grant funds from the state. The policy would require price quotes for expenditures between $500 and $5,000.
Council members expressed concerns about whether this requirement applied to all purchases or only those related to state grants. The council agreed to review the policy further and revisit it in the next meeting.