TIFTON — Tift City Council’s proposal to purchase an E-One fire truck resulted in a near split decision – not over whether to do so, but about how to purchase it. City Council authorized City Manager Emily Beeman to purchase a new fire truck for $480,000 during the June 20 meeting but were unable to reach unanimous agreement on the methods of paying for the vehicle. Vice Mayor Jack Folk said it would be more cost-effective to pay through a lease agreement, which was seconded by Councilman M. Jay Hall.

However, when Folk proposed a motion to purchase the truck through this method, the remaining three council members voiced their opposition, leaving the motion as having failed to carry.

Mayor Julie Smith expressed concern that the lease would accrue unnecessary debt, adding she felt if the city could feasibly pay the entire cost of the truck upfront, it should do so to remove the concern from the city’s plate.

Folk said the upfront purchase would be a waste of money and opposed the motion in its favor alongside Hall, but the two were outvoted 3-2 by Smith and Councilmen Lester Cromer and Josh Reynolds.