The Caledonia Board of Alderman met Tuesday to conduct general business and finalize plans for Caledonia Days next month.
The board voted unanimously to transfer $14,000 into the Caledonia Days fund. The total budget from the town is $28,000, the remainder of which will be paid in October. The Columbus Convention and Business Bureau also contributed $6,000 to the 12th annual Caledonia Days, which will be held October 16 and 17.
Event chairwoman Tammie McCool said the event has 35 sponsors this year. There will be 15 food vendors, down from 33 last year — McCool said there were too many vendors for any of them to make money in 2014.
McCool said she is spending $13,000 to advertise this year. They are running six newspaper ads, three radio ads, three TV ads and putting up two billboards — one is already up at Highway 45 and Bluecutt Road.
Other business
Fire chief Mark Spears was present Tuesday to request the purchase of a new emergency generator for his department. Alderman Mitch Wiggins said he had discussed the need for a generator with Spears last week.
“We were just talking about some things they will need that the town might help with, and we came up with the generator,” Wiggins said. “We want our own generator and we want it to be property of the town of Caledonia.”
The generator is $4,900, natural gas powered, 16 kilowatt fixed unit. The fire department will install it at their new fire station, which is currently under construction.
“This will take care of everything we will need in the event of an emergency,” Spears said.
Alderman Quinn Parham made a motion to approve the purchase. It passed unanimously.
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