Athens buys CNG garbage truck

Published 6:09 pm Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Athens residents may not hear it rolling down their streets come fall, but they will see a new compressed natural gas garbage truck.

City Council members voted Monday to pay $308,000 for a new CNG truck, which is expected to arrive this fall, said Public Works Director James Rich.

The sideloader truck will be used to replace an aging gasoline-powered truck and should arrive in August or September, Rich said.

The Athens Utilities Gas Department will pay $45,000 to install the compressed natural gas package on the truck, Mayor Ronnie Marks said.

CNG trucks are favored over gasoline-powered trucks because they last longer, run quieter and cost much less for fuel, officials have said.

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Also during Monday’s council meeting, council members took the following action:

• Approved an ordinance to amend city code on unsafe structures; • Approved a resolution to apply for a grant to purchase new equipment for the Water Department;

• Approved a resolution to demolish a structure at 722 Westmoreland Ave.;

• Agree to contract with Strickland Dirt LLC for dirt work not to exceed $7,500;

• Approved a resolution to reschedule the March 13 council meeting to March 20; and

• Agreed to pay $104,906 for circuit breakers for the GE Aviation and Buck Island substations.