Fairburn's City Hall is going to get a little safer.

The city Council Monday approved a request from the Court Clerk to purchase

a portable metal detector for use at the entrance of the court room/council

chambers at Fairburn"s City Hall

According to a memo from City Administrator Jim Williams, the additional

security comes in response to the Fairburn Police Department cracking down

on local drug traffickers, some of whom are well known as very dangerous

individuals. The metal detector would only be used on occasions when potentially

violent people are expected to be in attendance. The device would be stored

out of sight at all other times.

The cost was approved not to exceed $6,000. Councilman Frankie Arnold motioned

for approval and was seconded by Councilman Ron Alderman.

Also approved at a slightly higher cost were two new mowers for the city

at a cost of $11,802.68. The purchase comes in the middle of the grass cutting

season and was treated as an emergency situation which Williams authorized.

The two new commercial Exmark mowers from Dodson Farm, a local business

met the city's specifications and was the lowest of three bids received.

Money from the Public Works capital budget was used to cover the cost of

this new equipment.

The most expensive purchase authorized Monday night had a price tag of

$44,742. A new Ditch Witch, used by the city for electric and cable installations,

was argued by Williams as the best solution to the problem which comes in

the middle of an extensive city project. Ditch Witch of Georgia, the sole

supplier in the area, gave the city a credit of $5,471 for the old, worn-out

equipment bringing the new purchase to just under $45,000. There was no

interruption in the electric and cable installation schedule as immediate

delivery was available.