The city of LaFayette is using this drone to take aerial photos of city events.LaFayette residents may notice a new white drone flying over city events.
Thirty inches in diameter and 18 inches tall, the drone holds an Ultra HD 4,000-pixel camera, according to City Manager David Hamilton. The city paid $2,675 for the drone, two spare batteries, an extended-range remote and a carrying case, he said.
"The primary intent in buying it was to use it to promote the city," said Hamilton. "We use it from an economic standpoint. We wanted to have the ability to have aerial shots of properties that are available. [The photos] help promote the Egg Hunt, the Movies in the Park and all other events the city Downtown Development Authority puts on. It helps us showcase the golf course and the recreation."
For example, Hamilton said the drone completed a flyover of the LaFayette Golf Course, so now, people can do a virtual flyover to see the layout.
"When we had the fire at By the Truck, we flew the drone over and it helped us know what to tell firefighters," he added. "It's primarily about promoting the city, but it can provide an overhead view of a fire we are trying to fight."
Attendees at the city's Freedom Festival July Fourth should check the sky for the drone, said Hamilton.
"Freedom Festival starts at 3 p.m. in the LaFayette Municipal Park on South Main Street," he said.
In other LaFayette news
The City Council voted to buy an old Tennessee Valley Authority half-ton pickup truck for $10,200.The council also approved the purchase of a new dechlorination unit for the Wastewater Treatment Plant for $10,426.The city entered in to a Drug Task Force Memorandum of Understanding between Dade, Catoosa, Walker and Chattooga counties and the city of Fort Oglethorpe. Under the MOA, each will send one of its paid officers to participate on the Drug Task Force which operates as an independent team, according to LaFayette City Manager David Hamilton.The city of LaFayette received a $432,783 credit from the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia, a group of municipalities that controls the rate of power to customers, according to Hamilton. “We jointly own power generation and transmission,” he said, referring to the 50 cities that participate in MEAG. “The refund came in higher than we expected. We take it as a credit in our power bill.”