The town of Duck Hill is looking for a few people willing to get their hands dirty to finish outside maintenance before the cool temperatures set in.
Maintenance Director Patricia “Sookie” Currington said she needs a few more workers to finish out the year weedeating, cutting grass and cleaning ditches.
“We had one guy to come work for us,” she said. “He came at 10, went to lunch and we hadn’t seen him since then.”
She said it’s hard to find people that actually want to work.
“That’s the thing,” Mayor Joey Cooley said. “They have to want to work.”
“If you know anyone who wants to work, send them here (to city hall) and they have to fill out an application,” he said.
Currington said this should be the last round of cutting grass before it gets cold – if it gets cold, and she’s hoping it does.
Also, the board approved Duck Hill Fire Chief Michael D. Woods to purchase a fire truck and Chief of Police Tyler Winter to purchase a 2005 Crown Victoria.
The town has been on the hunt for a new fire truck. Woods said he found the truck, which is located in Virginia just outside of Washington D.C., on a website for $29,000.
“I’ve talked to them (at the fire department in Virginia), and they told me it had over 100,000 miles on it.”
Woods said he received over 50 photos of the truck, which is a 2003 E1. He said the department in Virginia does a 30-on, 30-off rotation with the truck to have it serviced.
“He said what they do is they pull the truck out for 30 days, then take it to the shop to have serviced and then they put it back on the road for 30 days.”
Woods said the truck was mainly used for EMS calls.
“That’s how they logged all the miles and hours,” he said.
Woods said even though the truck is used, it’s still cheaper than buying a newer truck, which could cost a $250,000.
“You’re still going to be ahead of the money,” he said.
Attorney Ray Baum said his only hesitation is if Woods goes to Virginia and the truck isn’t good.
“Then, I’m going back to Reagan International, getting a ticket, and I’m coming home. I’ll just tell y’all I’ll take care of the ticket myself,” Woods said laughing. “I told the man ‘Don’t you play me,’ but I think because it’s department to department, they’re going to be straight up with me.”
“Sounds like you’ve done your research,” Baum said.
“Yes sir,” Woods said. “We’ve been talking back and forth.”
Woods said the town could use fire rebate money to purchase the truck. He also said the Mississippi Fire Rating Bureau told him with the purchase of the truck, Duck Hill’s fire rating would improve to a seven rating.
Also, the board approved Chief of Police Tyler Winter to purchase a 2005 Crown Victoria from Horn Lake to replace a Dodge Charger. He said the Crown Victoria belongs to a company who are bounty hunters, and it has a dog cage in it.
“Maybe we can round up some of these dogs around here and take them to Grenada,” Winter said.
“You’d need a pretty big cage,” Alderwoman Linda Bassett said.
Winter said he thinks the company who owns the car may have had a K-9 also, which is why there’s a cage in the car.
He said the board actually budgeted for a car for the department, and this one is under budget.
Baum wanted to know if Winter would be able to test drive the car.
“Oh yeah, I’m going to make sure it’s in good shape,” he said.
