Last Updated on 3/17/2010

Published on 11/18/2009

Georgetown City Council will decide  Thursday whether to spend more than $420,000 on equipment for the city.
Jessica Miller, director of finance, will be asking council to approve the issuance of $420,000 in General Obligation (GO) bonds in order to make the purchases.
The money is needed for the following:
• Two fully equipped patrol vehicles for $64,000.
• A hazardous material truck for $150,000.
• A pickup truck for the fire department for $15,000
• Extrication tools for $35,000
• Improvements to the public works buildings for $18,500.
• The remaining .net implementation for $40,000
• Computer software to implement on-line billing for $18,000
• A computer server for $8,000
• Park improvements: $50,000
• Attorneys fees: $6,500
Miller, in a memo to council, said paying for the needs through GO bonds allows the city to pay for them in the same fiscal year “eliminating any interest expense  or cash flow issues.”
Miller also said she explored the possibility of leasing the vehicles but “it was actually less cost to the taxpayer to utilize debt milage.”
The matter must receive two readings before the GO bonds can be issued.
In other business Thursday:
In an effort to help bring safety to some streets in Georgetown, Council will consider a plan to add and replace sidewalks in several areas.
A memo to council from the finance and public works departments  says the improvements are needed because “broken sidewalks are a safety hazard and take away the aesthetic value of the city.”
The plan calls for spending more than $48,000 making repairs to portions of sidewalks on Prince, Smith, Front, Cleland, Dozier, Highmarket and Duke Streets.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Georgetown City Hall.