JASPER, Tenn. - When the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted for a 10-cent property tax increase in June, its members planned to use the additional money to replace much of the city's aging equipment, like the garbage truck.
At its September meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve a five-year lease with Stringfellow Inc. in Nashville for a new Freightliner garbage truck.
"We've talked about this, and the need for it - it's there," Alderman Paul West said.
According to the agreement, Jasper will pay $62,858 annually for the truck, but officials said the first payment wouldn't be due until 12 months after its delivery.
"What that does is it gives us the opportunity to collect the property taxes we had agreed upon to buy this," Mayor Paul Evans said.
The board had a choice between two truck brands for nearly the same price. Evans recommended the slightly more expensive Freightliner brand "just because of the 45 [additional] days we would have to wait for the [other brand]."
The purchase comes with 1,700 new garbage cans, called "curb carts," that will go out to the customers in the coming months.
The carts are specially designed for automatic pickup, which Evans said eliminates the need for city workers to ride along the back of the truck.
"I think it's really going to make a big difference in the town here," he said.
Alderman Steve Looney said he thinks the new truck and collection system will speed up the daily job, too.
"There's no doubt about that," he said.
Evans said the specialized garbage containers come with a 10-year warranty.
"After that, it will be up to individuals to purchase one," Evans said. "If they want a second one, it will be up to them [Jasper residents] to purchase the second container."
The carts cost $59 each.
"I think that's pretty good compared to what some of them sell for in some of the places," Evans said.
In other business, the board voted unanimously to purchase 500 radio-read water meters for $78,500.
The town has been in the process of converting the town's 3,900 water meters to the automated version for years as a cost-saving measure.
Officials estimate Jasper once spent approximately $67,000 per year on labor to read the meters manually. City leaders purchased the first 1,000 automated meters in January 2014.
Evans said those new meters have already made "a big difference" for the town.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.