Officials: Will save money in short and long term

The Peachtree City Council has decided to go ahead with a $26,000 investment that will pay itself off in four years.

The funds will purchase an apparatus to fill firefighter’s oxygen tanks, which in the long run will save the city a $6,300 a year that’s currently paid for the tanks to be delivered here.

The purchase was funded in the current year budget and the department also saved $18,700 in a different budget for breathing apparatus, officials noted.

The oxygen generator can also be used in an emergency to fill the oxygen tanks of residents who are on home oxygen but would be without it if power is lost for any significant length of time that could deplete their backup supply, officials said.

Because of the cost and the city’s pending budget shortfall for next year, council scrutinized the expenditure before approval.

After several questions, council learned that there will be an annual service contract for less than $600 each year and the main component that could go out is the compressor, which should last between 10 and 12 years before it needs replacing.

The equipment will be financed over a five-year period with annual payments of $5,786 each. It was noted that those payments are less than what the department is currently charged for oxygen canister service.

City administrator Bernie McMullen said though this is a capital expense, he wanted to make the purchase because it will save money in the near term.