The City of Smithville has approved the purchase of a new automated side-loading garbage truck and 2500 curbside trash containers made to work with the new system.

At the monthly meeting of the mayor and aldermen Monday night, the purchase of a 24-cubic-yard tandem-axle Peterbilt 348 garbage truck from Municipal Equipment, Inc. of Knoxville was OK’d by the aldermen. Of six bids submitted, the one for the Peterbilt was the highest at $192,564.

The purchase of 2500 curbside trash containers, also from Municipal Equipment, Inc., for $120,500, the lowest of five bids submitted was approved as well, bringing the total cost of the truck and containers to $313,064.

City Administrator Hunter Hendrixson cited problems with some other trucks the city has used in recommending the Peterbilt.

 “Three of the bids are for Freightliners, two for Internationals, and one Peterbilt,” Hendrixson said. “We have three Freightliners at the moment. I am not a fan of these Freightliners. We have spent no telling how much for repairs and maintenance. We have had a lot of issues with the Freightliners. I am not as familiar with the Internationals. In my opinion Peterbilt is the best truck, but it’s the most expensive truck by about $8,000. We have budgeted $350,000 for the truck and the containers, so we will come in well under budget for this truck and containers. My recommendation is the Peterbilt 348. It is the highest priced truck, but it is also top of the line.”

The aldermen voted unanimously to buy the truck and containers.

Aldermen also voted to enact an ordinance allowing the city to prosecute water thieves.

Although violators have been criminally prosecuted in the past the city has apparently had no formal policy or ordinance spelling out the terms of civil penalties and the state is recommending that it be done according to City Administrator Hunter

Hendrixson told the board that while offenders have been prosecuted in the past, the state has recommended a formal policy be enacted outlining the penalties for the crime.

Fire Chief Charlie Parker told the aldermen that the Smithville Volunteer Fire Department had received a mutual aid request from Pigeon Forge, and was given the council’s blessing to take three firefighters and a truck to help with the destruction in the area following recent fires. The request from Pigeon Forge was apparently cancelled before the firefighters could get underway, however.

Listen to the audio of the entire meeting below.