The Hinesville City Council during its Thursday meeting approved the purchase of more than a half million dollars worth of equipment for its public-works department.
The replacement equipment was a tractor ($49,751 from Dixon New Holland of Blackshear), mower deck ($19,975 from Altamaha Equipment of Jesup), excavator with articulated legs ($365,000 from GS Equipment of Tampa) and excavator on wheels ($164,250 from ASC Construction Equipment in Savannah.)
Each purchase was the lowest of qualified bids, according to information presented by former city councilman Bobby Ryon, who now works for the public-works contractor, CH2M Hill/OMI.

In other business, the council:
• granted a peddler’s license to Tom Collins of Vinyl Industries to sell home-improvement products door-to-door.
• recognized Hinesville Firehouse Subs franchise owners Eddie Wells and Mitul Desal for a $4,100 grant to the Hinesville Fire Department, which is to be used for child safety seats.
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