THOMASVILLE — Thomasville City Council approved more than $400,000 in Thomasville Utilities (TU) purchases a TU official said are crucial to the city government’s operations.

In action taken at a Monday council meeting, council members approved the following purchases:

• $181,465 for a 70-foot hydraulic bucket truck

• $225,201 for a digger derrick truck

• $28,000 for a chipper

The bucket truck will replace a 2007 vehicle, said Chris White, TU assistant superintendent.

The digger derrick truck will replace a 2004 model.

“It’s used for digging holes for utility poles,” White said. “It’s also used for lifting transformers and heavy pieces of equipment.”

The chipper grinds tree trimmings into mulch. White said TU’s chipper was destroyed by fire in 2018.

The purchases are in TU’s 2019 capital budget.

White said the trucks might be delivered late this year, but more likely in early 2020.

Trucks being replaced will be sold at auction.

“The purchases are extremely crucial in keeping our fleet up to date and in service,” White said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820