KYLE MURPHYStaff Writer

The Tullahoma Utilities Authority voted to purchase for the electric department for the price of $43,513.40.

According to TUA President Brian Skelton, TUA’s current budget in its electric department includes $55,000 for the purchase of a new three-quarter ton 4WD double cab pickup truck for the general foreman, with plans to surplus his current 2011 Chevrolet truck.

Skelton told the board a request for a quote to all local truck dealers and received one bid from Russell Barnett Ford for $55,960. Skelton said historically TUA tries to buy locally, but the pricing was a little high. Using the Tennessee Statewide Contract 209, which was created to provide state agencies, local governments and private nonprofit institutions for the purchase and delivery of new vehicles, Skelton said they found an alternative vehicle that met their qualifications from Wilson County Motor Company in the amount of $43,513.40. The quote does not include the required accessories that were in the previous bid, and Skelton said in-house mechanic could purchase and install those accessories at the estimated cost of $3,000.

“We can have our mechanic add the running boards and strobes and that will save us a significant amount of money,” Skelton said. “That’s the reason we are recommending in this case to buy off the state contract than the local dealer.”

TUA Board Chairman JT Northcutt made the recommendation that an amendment should be added that if the cost of the accessories exceed $4,000 or more then the item should come back to the board for further discussion due to a big variance in what is the projected estimated cost and what the actual cost could be.

The board then unanimously approved the purchase of a 2024 4×4 Double Cab Chevrolet Silverado 2500 from Wilson County Motor Company for $43,513.40, with TUA providing strobe lights, tool boxes, running boards and a spotlight at the estimated cost of $3,000, with the amendment of the item coming back to the board if the accessories cost comes out to be $4,000 or more.