Tom Joyce

Staff Reporter

Mount Airy officials want to delay any major equipment purchases or other expenditures in the near future, amid some concerns this could compromise safety or overburden future generations.

Members of the city Board of Commissioners took that stand on spending during a two-day planning retreat that concluded Friday, with the matters discussed including a proposed $2.6 million capital improvements plan.

That package contains several big-ticket items deemed by city department heads to be needed for the next fiscal year that begins July 1 and the subsequent four years. The list includes a new aerial truck slated for the Fire Department — an $800,000 cost.

An older truck used by the department has been experiencing hydraulic and other problems that cause its bucket not to level properly once it’s extended into the air, and also is posing costly repairs. Fire Chief Benny Brannock said he is concerned about the safety of the existing vehicle, which would be used in the event of a blaze at larger buildings in the city such as Northern Hospital of Surry County.

“We need a good workable truck,” City Manager Don Brookshire agreed. “We need something where firefighters aren’t at risk when they use that piece of equipment.” He said the $800,000 would cover a truck to meet basic needs of firefighters in a safe manner, without “bells and whistles.”

The commissioners, however, said that with Mount Airy expected to face its toughest budget challenges in decades as the economy continues to plummet, this is not the year for such expenses.

Board members indicated that along with not favoring the $800,000 expenditure, they also aren’t willing to entertain a 20-year financing plan for the fire truck — after being told that would add about three-quarters of a cent to the local property-tax rate.

“That’s too dear to me,” Commissioner Todd Harris said of that impact from the purchase plan.

Other options also were discussed, including trying to obtain a demo model of the desired truck or some other special deal.

“If you want my support on it, you have to overwhelm me with what a sweet deal it is,” said Harris.

“I think it’s a hard sell,” Commissioner Jon Cawley said in also weighing in on the matter.

Dean Brown, another commissioner, suggested seeking possible grants to aid with the acquisition or maybe asking the county government to help with the purchase, since the new truck could be used for fires outside the city limits.

But in the absence of some huge pile of money becoming available, city officials indicated Friday that the truck transaction should be delayed until the financial picture improves.

Among other items in the capital improvements plan is money for a new telephone system for city government.

“Once again, as we did last year, we may have to look at expending more than we want on maintenance of buildings, equipment and vehicles in order to avoid the purchase of some of these items now,” the city manager said in a memo to the board.

“Some of the rolling stock must be replaced.”

Water/Sewer Needs

Another item that apparently will be postponed indefinitely is replacement of aging water and sewer lines, which Jeff Boyles, city public services director, said should be done on an annual basis.

“Most of our system is more than 50 years old,” Boyles told the commissioners during the retreat. Recent problems with water lines that have burst are evidence of the need, he said.

Boyles said that rehabilitation work with a price tag of about $1.8 million annually is needed to maintain the city’s water-sewer infrastructure.

“We can put it off for a little while,” Boyles said. “But it doesn’t go away.”

“Right now, this is a ticking time bomb under the streets and neighborhoods in Mount Airy,” said Commissioner David Beal.

According to the city manager, “We’ve got some stuff that’s probably as old as the city itself.” He pointed out that a portion of the utility infrastructure dates to 1900.

Failing to deal with the deteriorating water and sewer lines, Boyles said, is “nothing but passing on our costs to the next generation.”

But the board members indicated that this huge expense and others will have to wait, at least for now.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.