Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen makes four purchasing decisions for city

Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen met for less than 10 minutes, on Sept. 4, as they moved quickly through a short agenda, making four purchasing decisions and then getting updates from the city’s various departments.

While two aldermen, Brent Young and Hoyt Jones, were absent, those present agreed unanimously on each of the agenda’s five items that required a vote.

The board approved the purchase of 200 96-gallon trash containers. The purchase, which will be made on a Sourcewell contract from Toter, will cost the city $14,146. However, aldermen were reminded that the purchase is already accounted for as part of the budget allocated to the sanitation department.

The aldermen also approved two purchases for the electric department. They authorized the purchase of 12 steel poles from Smithville Electric in the amount of $38,499. The decision to purchase a 500Kva Transformer was also approved. The transformer will cost the city $17,390.

One final purchasing decision was made on Thursday night. The board of mayor and aldermen was presented with a low bid for the stormwater pipe for the new splash pad being built on Polk Street. Mayor Jerry Lowery said he felt the bid was on the high side, but public works director Dillard Quick felt differently saying that he felt it was low. The board approved the purchase as it was presented.

With no other decision-making items on the agenda, the city’s aldermen were presented with updates from various departments.

The codes department informed the board that Dairy Queen was still making progress at their new location on the corner of East Bockman Way and Highland Drive and that Waffle House asked for an extension on their permits for the plans they have for 601 W. Bockman Way. It was also stated that Sparta’s newest restaurant, Angelie’s, opened at 18 N. Main St. and that the buildings on Mose Drive have been demolished in preparation for the county’s new health department to be built.

The city police department’s report showed they responded to 688 calls during the month of August. Those calls resulted in five arrests and 146 citations.

Other miscellaneous updates included the fact that the relocation of the skate park is budgeted for fiscal year end 2026 but that site preparation has begun as well as a new pavilion on South Carter Street and that Wi-Fi has been installed at Oldham Theater and  Sparta Civic Center.

The next meeting for Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen will be 5 p.m., Sept. 18, at Sparta City Hall. All meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the city’s YouTube channel for those who would like to observe but cannot attend in person.