VIDALIA — The Vidalia City Council voted Tuesday to execute an emergency lease for a dump truck.

The emergency was caused because one of the city’s trucks is out of commission, leaving the city with one large truck and two smaller ones, Street Department Head Lee Staggs said.

“It is putting a hurting on us as far as getting our business done with our routes is concerned,” Staggs said.

The lease is with Bancorp Equipment Finance, and will be for 25 months, during which the city will make 24 payments of $2,800 a month, mayor pro-temp Vernon Stevens said.

“We can renew the lease at the end of the 25 months or get a new truck and a new lease,” Stevens said.

The city decided to lease the new truck rather than buy it because it is ultimately cheaper, City Attorney Jack McLemore said.

“We had some people bid for a new truck, but they didn’t bid to our specifications,” he said. “We did the math and factored in the life of the trucks, and it was cheaper to lease. At the end of the lease we’re not obligated to buy the truck, and during the lease we’re not responsible for maintenance.”

The council also opened bids for an aerial device for the street department.

The first bid, from Altec, was for $88,232, and included a one year warranty, delivery and complete installation.

The second bid, from Skylift, included shipping and was for $82,150.

The council voted to take the bids under advisement and pass them on to the mayor, who was not present.

In other news:

4The council voted to approve an occupational license and sign application for Anytime Fitness, a health club located on Carter Street.

4The council voted to approve sign applications for Farm Bureau and Fred’s, both on Carter Street.