Council approves purchase of tractor
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The city is acquiring a 2012 trackless MT6 sidewalk tractor, following City Council’s decision earlier this month to authorize City Manager Jim Bennett to purchase the machine from H.P. Fairfield, of Skowhegan, for a price not to exceed $108,000, with funds to be taken from the Public Works reserve account.
The decision followed extensive discussion on the price and need for a new machine.
Public Works Director Dana Fowler explained to councilors the city’s current tractor, a 2000 model, served as an “essential piece of equipment for blowing snow” that is used “year-round for mowing, sweeping and snow removal.”
“In a nutshell, it’s worn out,” said Fowler, noting that while a new tractor wasn’t in the 2012 capital improvements plan, it was included for 2013. “We need your approval to purchase it this year.”
“This (the MT6) is a used piece of equipment, not brand new — guidelines give authority to the department head to purchase used equipment,” Fowler said. “You would need to add ‘with revisions, as presented’ to the motion.”
Councilor Peter Hallowell questioned if there were other dealers in the state and why the bid process had not been used. Fowler said to his knowledge there was only one company in the state carrying such equipment.
“To my knowledge, they’re the only one in the state. This is the machine most municipalities use,” said Fowler.
Councilor Dick Engels asked how money taken from this account would be made up. Fowler indicated the truck the city uses to work on lights still needed repairs but that it was “cheaper to hire an electrician than buy a bucket truck.”
Councilor Randy Smith noted he’d looked at the tractor currently in use and that “it’s definitely at the end of its useful life.”
“We have roughly 28 miles of sidewalks. We could really use two machines. The one we have breaks down frequently but could be used for backup,” said Fowler. “We’d like to keep the old one so some of the time we would have two running.”
Council Chair Emily Smith believed city officials were “in the driver’s seat to sit on our hands.”
“$108,000 is a lot of money. They’re trying to push this, with implements. What are the chances you’d get a better deal?” asked Smith.
Fowler said the city was getting a bargain, since $108,000 was the price with no attachments.
“The new machine has 10 hours on it, and the company is including $20,000 in attachments at no additional cost to the city,” Fowler said. Fowler said the same machine sold for $10,000 more last year.
Smith agreed the city’s current equipment needed to be replaced but that “they pretty much know they have you.”
Fowler indicated that many of the attachments that go with the city’s present tractor will also fit the new machine.
“Five attachments came with ours that will fit on the new machine, as well as a piece of equipment we made. The major attachment we’ll get is a snowblower valued at $13,000,” he said. “The new machine can use many of the attachments we already have — sweeper, roller, mower, snowplow.”
Engels agreed the city needed to replace what they have.
“I think you’ll get a better deal in July,” said the City Council chair.
Hallowell asked whose job it was to clear sidewalks. Fowler said one laborer handled most of the responsibilities, though three operators were capable of running the equipment. Hallowell questioned the possibility of outsourcing, with Fowler indicating, as far as he knew, the city had always maintained the sidewalks.
Engels said sidewalk maintenance was also a school safety issue, since many children walk to school.
Smith again expressed her desire for the city to wait for a better price.
“This type of machine sees a lot of wear and tear. I wonder how many municipalities are shopping for this. Maybe we could make an offer,” said Smith. “I think we should wait.”
Fowler said while the old machine still had some value, Fairfield was not interested in trade-ins.
“It’s worn out. Other municipalities run about half the hours we do on a machine. It has about 4,000 hours — not bad on the engine, but the machine itself is worn out,” said Fowler.
Randy Smith noted new emission standards were “coming onboard that will mean machines will cost more,” making this an ideal time to purchase equipment before the price went up.
Hallowell agreed, saying the emission changes may increase fuel efficiency but the machines will cost more.
“Call first and see if we can get it for $99,999,” said the Council Chair.
With discussion concluded, Engels made a motion to authorize the purchase, seconded by Councilor Jessica Chase-Smith, with the vote 4-1 — Council Chair Smith voting in opposition.
