Aside from parking issues discussed at their Tuesday, August 22 meeting (see story this page), members of the city council approved a bid for the police department’s Humvee, delayed a final payment for the splash park, approved the new property tax rate, and approved a letter for property owners whose trees will be trimmed or cut during regular business.

The city’s 1989 military Humvee was sold when the city council accepted a lone bid for $12,517 from Sterling Birch.

The all-terrain military vehicle was acquired in 2012 by then City Marshal Jeff Oswald under a Department of Defense (DOD) program that decommissions military equipment for use by law enforcement. Current City Marshal David Ford said he rarely uses the vehicle, and it is not worth keeping due to the cost of upkeep and insurance.

The DOD does not allow the vehicle to be driven on roadways, and Mr. Birch must sign a waiver acknowledging the rule. 

It was hoped that the Humvee would sell for as much as $15,000. Chief Ford said its value rests between $12,000 and $15,000. Birch’s singular bid received unanimous approval.

The Fayette city council delayed a final payment to Ideal Landscaping, the company that built the city’s splash pad located by the swimming pool at the city park. The splash pad has been mired by several issues, including incorrect concrete, maintenance problems, and broken equipment. 

The city still owes $13,595. Ideal Landscaping reduced the final cost by $2,500 because there have been so many issues. The total cost for the park was $321,900, which was funded entirely by donations. Work began in October 2021, and the park was opened on July 22, 2022.

Fayette’s director of public works, Danny Dougherty, was absent from the meeting, and the council voted to table the issue to further discuss the splash pad’s condition upon his return.

The council also gave unanimous approval to set the city’s new property tax rate at $0.5907 per $100 of assessed valuation, up from $0.5787 a year ago. 

Rates are set by the county. A public hearing was held at the start of the council’s regular meeting held on Tuesday, August 22. No objections were raised during the hearing, and the rate was approved.