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After two air ambulances landed in Yatesville on the morning of Nov. 11 to pick up two accident victims, the subject of installing a helicopter landing pad at the fire department came up at the City Council meeting on Nov. 12.

Mayor Cecil Moncrief stated he went to the fire department and pulled the trucks out to help light the parking lot for the helicopters to land on Sunday morning, and asked if there is any way for the city to put a landing pad in.

Councilmember Ronnie Riggins, who is also the Yatesville Fire Chief, replied that they have talked about it several times already.

“What I would like to see is the asphalt spread out, and where we end the asphalt, put a pad there,” said Riggins. “We can get some of the reflective paint the Department of Transportation uses and paint a reflective H on there, so it is a lot more visible.”

Moncrief noted that the helicopters didn’t have any problem landing in the parking lot.

“The only problem they had was a trash can that went flying like a bullet across the yard,” he said.

In other fire department business at the meeting, Riggins stated that the department’s double tandem tanker truck needs a set of tires.

“Apparently it had retreads on it when we bought it used, but the retreads are beginning to separate, and the next thing that will happen is one of them will fly off,” Riggins said. “ All of them are starting to separate. This is the tanker we bought in 2003 with a tandem axle; we’re talking 10 tires.

“I’ve got bids from three different places: Griffin Commercial Tire in Griffin, Lamar Tire and Auto in Barnesville, and Meriwether Tire Service in Griffin. The bids go from $3,275.62 all the way up to $3,992 tires. That’s 10 tires, installed.

“We recommend the lowest bid, because they are all Firestone tires. These other ones are off-the-wall brands I’ve never heard of. The lowest bid is from Griffin Commercial Tire.”

Mayor Moncrief noted that they have been looking for tires for a while and been calling state contractors. Riggins added these bidders are state contractors.

Mayor Moncrief asked how long it will take to get the tires installed. Riggins replied that the Griffin Commercial Tire representative said that if the city sets up a date to have the tires installed and gets the truck there first thing in the morning, he will have several people ready to work on it.

Councilmember Phyl Gatlin asked if there was a local company they could purchase the tires from. Riggins stated they sought local business, but that no one locally would give them a quote.

Councilmember Wanda Dozier made a motion to approve the purchase of the new tires. Gatlin seconded the motion and it was approved by a 5-0 vote.