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Whitfield County approves $603,000 turnout-gear replacement and other public-safety purchases
Summary
The Board approved replacement turnout gear for Whitfield County Fire Department ($603,000), a generator for Fire Station 5 ($55,419.80), 12 portable radios ($48,414.84) and an emergency HVAC ratification for the EOC ($9,900). Funding came from a mix of operating budget, fund balance and SPLOST.
Whitfield County commissioners authorized a series of public-safety equipment purchases and a budget amendment during the Jan. 12 meeting.
The board approved a $603,000 purchase from Dinges Fire Company to replace 121 firefighter protective equipment sets (structural coat, pant, helmet, hood), citing state and federal certification requirements that limit usable service life to 10 years. Commissioners recorded that $201,000 will be drawn from the Fire Department operating budget and $402,000 from the department’s fund balance. The selection followed a competitive bid and committee review, the minutes state.
Separately, the board approved a 30KW Cummins generator with automatic transfer switch for WCFD Station 5 from Standby Service Solutions, LLC for $55,419.80, funded by 2020 SPLOST because the existing unit was deemed inoperable and irreparable. The board also approved purchase of 12 Motorola portable radios for Public Works at $48,414.84 to replace supervisors’ radios and items missed in the prior inventory. Additionally, commissioners ratified an emergency HVAC replacement for the county’s Emergency Operations Center for $9,900 from Chadwick Heat and Air Inc., using 2026 capital funds after the EOC’s compressor failed during the holiday period.
Commissioners approved these items by recorded votes noted as 4-0 in the meeting minutes. Implementation tasks assigned in the minutes include inventorying radio deliveries, scheduling generator installation and distributing new turnout gear to personnel.
Next steps: Departments identified as assignees will complete procurement follow-up and coordinate installation or distribution according to departmental timelines.
