By Tracy Ouellette
Editor
“Every year one of the biggest complaints I get is from residents having to haul their leaves away,” Village Trustee Dusty Stanford said Monday night when the matter of buying a new street sweeper came before the board.
“If we had a sweeper we could help those people, approve the aesthetics of the village and save money on sewer back ups,” he continued.
Department of Public Works Director Mike Miller brought the request for a new sweeper to the board because the 40-year-old one the village is currently using can’t do the job his department needs it to. Miller requested in a memo the board consider purchasing a used sweeper he located for about $135,000 or authorize him to look into purchasing a brand new sweeper, which would cost about $250,000.
Miller told the board the villages sweeper was the “most used and abused” piece of equipment the DPW had and a newer model would help with village clean up, especially leaf pick up, storm sewer maintenance and at the sewage plant.
“I’m worried a bit that a year from now, we’re talking about putting people on at the DPW if we do this,” said Village President Randy Timms. “Will we have to feed the monster we created?”
Miller said there was no way to tell if it would mean extra hours in his department because it was hard to calculate the time-savings the newer equipment would offer as his department spends a great deal of time working on the old machine.
The board discussed the pros and cons of buying used versus new. Stanford was in favor at looking at new equipment that could possibly be obtained on a lease-to-buy contract, spreading out the cost over seven years.
“It allows us to get better equipment – get the equipment to do the things we need it to do,” Stanford said.
Trustee Forty Renucci pointed out that a used sweeper would not come with any warranties.
The board voted to have Miller do some research on purchasing a new machine and what it would cost the village and how it would be a benefit over a used one.
New truck
Miller also asked the board for $17,593 to purchase a new truck for the Waste Water Treatment Plant. He said that since the DPW has taken on management of Parks and Recreation, his department is often without a vehicle when work is being done at one of the village parks.
“Since we’ve integrated park operations we’ve got some guys who are really motivated to fix things up and they’re doing a good job at it,” Miller said. “But it leaves us short at times.”
There was some discussion about possibly using a squad car when this happens and both Chief Alan Boyes and Miller said they already do use police cars sometimes, but they can’t be used for hauling branches and the like.
Miller’s proposal to fund the new truck would have taken money from the budget that was to be used to purchase new sewer mixers and put the purchase of the mixers off for a year or two.
Renucci asked if it would be possible to purchase the sewer mixers from the Wastewater Treatment Plant equipment replacement fund instead.
Clerk-Treasurer Eileen Suhm said it would and that there was more than $1 million available in the equipment replacement fund.
The board voted to purchase the truck for the DPW out of the budget money allotted to the mixers and purchase the mixers with money from the equipment replacement fund.
The board also approved funding in the amounts of:
• $3,065.82 to purchase supplies and inventory for the water utility;
• $3,798.87 to purchase a 2-inch flow meter and actuator for the Wastewater Treatment Plant;
• $1,161.60 to purchase a new compressor and coil for the influent sampler at the Treatment Plant.
