The county will dip into its reserves for $80,000 to repair the Community Center and voted to spend another $205,000 for a fire truck for Tivoli.

During the meeting, Commissioner Stanley Tuttle said he found several pumper trucks, all less than 10 years old, for sale on the Internet. He also questioned whether Tivoli had sufficient water supply to support the water delivery system on the new truck.

However, the other commissioners rejected further delays or possible problems that arise from used equipment and voted unanimously to purchase the truck.

After the meeting, Tuttle said he was in favor of Tivoli having a pumper truck but was concerned about dipping into reserves in the current economy.

“I don’t like where we’re going with our reserves,” Tuttle said. “Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Oil and gas revenues are way down and we’ve had three years of take, take, take.”

Tuttle said other departments in the county, including Bayside VFD, which obtained its second truck this year, obtained them through grants. Three years ago, $18,000 of grant matching funds were allocated by the county; however, Tivoli was not selected for the grant.

“If you’re not selected, your numbers improve the next year and you have a better chance of getting the grant each year you apply,” Tuttle said.

But neither the county or TVFD applied the last two years, virtually eliminating its chances of obtaining a truck through the grant process, Tuttle said.

As a result of the failure, both Commissioners Gary Bourland and Tuttle voiced concerns that residents may face higher taxes next year because of the debts, including another $80,000 earmarked for repairs to the community center.

“We need to decide whether to fix it or bulldoze it,” Bourland said.

Ron Foster, engineer with LNV Engineering, met with the commissioners during the regular session and a workshop after the meeting to report the findings of another engineering consultant, who Foster said confirmed their belief that water was seeping into the space between the exterior and interior wall.

Commissioner Ann Lopez asked Foster if the consultant had actually inspected the building.

Foster said the consultant didn’t see the building but relied on his description.

“He didn’t need to see it,” Foster said.

Foster recommended that the exterior walls either be painted which would waterproof the walls for eight to 10 years or seal it with a clear sealant which would last 20 years but at more expense.

However, the exterior is stained so badly, Foster recommended the paint.

While the work inside was characterized as “cosmetic” by Bourland, Foster pointed out an inoperable fire alarm system, two or three windows that are “eaten through” and electrical code violations that are fire hazards and missing floor tiles.

The county paid LNV Engineering approximately $20,000 for the assessment.

With $1.2 million in reserves, Tuttle asked for caution.

I’d rather not go in debt twice in one day,” Bourland said.

“Our outside auditor advised not to keep less than $1 million in reserves,” Tuttle said.

“Last year, we hit it pretty hard,” said Auditor Diana Moss.

Lopez asked that the county dedicate money for regular repair of county buildings as a preventative measure for disrepair.

“This building is in sad shape,” Lopez said, referring to the courthouse.

Judge Rene Mascorro said about $1 million was needed to stabilize the courthouse.