The Appling County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, December 2, and took the following action:

Bids for two new Appling County Sheriff’s cars and one SUV-type vehicle were opened. Bids were submitted by Sapp Ford, Cothern-Varnadore Chevrolet, Brannen Motor Company, Bobby Jones Ford and Laprade Government Sales. Sapp Ford bid $50,139.44 for the cars and did not submit a bid on the SUV. Cothern-Varnadore Chevrolet bid $28,350.00 for the SUV and did not submit a bid for the cars. Brannen Motor Company bid a total of $79,623.00 for all three vehicles. Bobby Jones Ford bid a total of $74,056.76 for all three vehicles. Laprade Government Sales bid $76,639.67 for all three vehicles. The commissioners voted unanimously to allow Interim County Manager Lee Lewis and Sheriff Benny Deloach to review the bids and make a recommendation back to the board for a final decision.

After some discussion, board members voted to reject all bids for a new motor grader (sloper-type) that had been opened at a prior meeting. Commissioner John Tillman made a motion for the county to keep the current motor grader, which has a limited amount of hours. Commissioner Ronnie Rentz seconded the motion. Lewis stated that he had contacted Yancey Brothers about adding some additional warranty to the current machine and stated that the county could add a two-year/2000 hour warranty for the drive train for $3,800.00. The commissioners passed the motion unanimously and also agreed to add the warranty to the machine.

Board members approved a request from a group wanting to have a triathlon event at Lake Mayers.

Graham Fire Department submitted a request to replace a damaged pump on a fire truck at a cost of $4,425.00. The commissioners approved the request unanimously.

Commissioner Theodore Wilkerson requested that the amount that had been charged against the Ernest J. Parker Park SPLOST project by the county public works department be removed and be considered in-kind in order to complete additional improvements to the park such as lighting for the walking track and pavement around the community center building. The department had charged the project $36,526.39 for fill dirt and rock to construct the track and building. Commissioner Mike Dyal seconded the motion. The request carried unanimously.

Following a closed door session for personnel and real estate purposes, the commission voted to offer a year-to-year lease agreement with the Appling County Board of Education for the Concerted Services facility located behind the city gym.

The commissioners also hired Lee Lewis as the interim county manager following the closed meeting.