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Tift County approves emergency rental and purchase of detention-center generator after lightning strike
Summary
After a lightning strike disabled the 20+-year backup generator, the Tift County Board of Commissioners approved renting a temporary unit for about $13,054 and purchasing a replacement generator and transfer switch from Yancey Power Systems for $145,513, to be funded from SPLOST VI.
The Tift County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 14 authorized an emergency rental and the purchase of a new backup generator for the county detention center after the existing unit failed following a lightning strike and power surge.
County Manager Jim Carter told the board the generator that was installed when the facility was built is more than 20 years old and would no longer provide backup power after the recent surge. Staff estimated repairs would cost at least $40,000 and recommended replacement. Carter said the last outage, on Aug. 11, left the jail pods without power for about an hour and temperatures reached 95 degrees.
Staff solicited options from four industrial suppliers. Yancey Power Systems (Caterpillar) reported a unit available in 2–3 days for $145,513 and offered a $5,000 discount on purchase if the county rented from them first. Cummins quoted $184,500 with a 40–45 week lead time; Kohler quoted $208,340 with a 69–72 week lead time. County staff also noted the transfer switch will require replacement and that electricians and crane services will be needed; those ancillary costs were not specified.
To maintain operations while awaiting installation, commissioners approved a four-week rental from Yancey for $13,053.87 and then approved purchasing the Yancey unit and a transfer switch for $145,513, with funding from SPLOST VI. The motion to rent was made by Commissioner Greg Wood and seconded by Commissioner Donnie Hester; the subsequent purchase motion was made by Commissioner Paul Webb. Both passed unanimously, 6-0.
The county will arrange electrical and crane services for installation; staff said parts such as the new transfer switch have lead times of roughly 20–25 weeks, meaning temporary arrangements will be needed until full installation is complete.
