In a short meeting April 7 the Liberty County Commission approved some equipment purchases and accepted a bid for improvements on the Isle of Wight’s Third Street.

The meeting was held by teleconference in line with the policy of social distancing intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Pastor Richard Hayes opened the meeting with prayer and, in a new step, the session closed with prayer.

The commissioners accepted a recommendation from County Engineer Trent Long to award a contract to Sikes Brothers Construction Co. for work on Isle of Wight Third Street. Sikes was the low bidder at $295,000.

A new ambulance had been planned for this year and the commissioners voted to pay $167,000 for a Taylor Made 2019 model. County Administrator Joey Brown said a 2019 ambulance was in strock and the long delay in delivery could be avoided.

 The commissioners also voted to buy two new tractors from Appling Motors at a combined cost of $110,000. The county is allowed $20,000 credit on the trade-in of two old tractors.

April is Autism Awareness Month and Brown read the text of a proclamation recognizing it in Liberty County.

Commissioner Connie Thrift asked when the county’s mosquito control program would begin. Brown said spraying usually starts in May and the department was checking equipment and supplies and lining up seasonal workers.

Officials are poised to work on next fiscal year’s budget. All departments have submitted their budget requests and the large looseleaf “books” used for planning have been distributed to the commissioners.

Brown said, “It is problematic to actually bring people before us,” because of corornavirus precautions limiting gatherings.. In previous years department heads or their representatives presented budget information to commissioners.

Chairman Donald Lovette has issued a statement saying, “The board of commissioners and constitutional officers should ready themselves for  budgetary readjustments due to the impact of the coronavirus on our local economy. All beneficiaries of the sales tax should also ready themselves for any shortfalls to funding their respective projects. 

“We all pray that the economy comes back with a vengeance. If it doesn’t then we must be ready to make the tough decisions to keep the county running as efficiently as possible.”

Email Parker at joeparkerjr@hotmail.com.