The City of Gallatin, Tenn., plans to replace several vehicles in its aging fleet after being awarded a $2.7 million state grant. The city plans to replace 19 vehicles and equipment, including refuse trucks, dump trucks, knucklebooms, and box vans.

The grant was awarded by the Tennessee Department of Transportation's Congestion Mitigation and Air quality Improvement Program. The grant is intended to improve air quality and reduce diesel and gasoline emissions in areas of the state with a history of non-attainment. With this grant, the city will only pay 20% of the cost for these new vehicles.

“We are very frugal when it comes to replacing vehicles – we basically run them until they die,” Zach Wilkinson, superintendent of Public Works, said in a statement. One of Public Works' vehicles being replaced is a 1972 track loader.

The city submitted more than 50 diesel and gas vehicles for replacement, with half over 20-years-old. 19 were approved for replacement with this grant. Funds from the grant will also be used to create a sidewalk and purchase a glass crusher.