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Smithville staff propose ending contracted snow removal, request budget amendment to outfit parks crews
Summary
City staff urged moving snow removal fully in‑house, equipping parks and recreation trucks with plows and spreaders and buying larger "pusher box" capability; staff estimated equipment costs at about $60,000–$75,000 and said a budget amendment would be needed before fall training.
City staff recommended ending routine contracted snow removal and bringing the work in‑house to improve reliability and coordination.
The streets and parks divisions presented a plan to outfit three parks and recreation units with plows and salt spreaders and to train additional operators so the city can respond with a single coordinated crew during winter events. Staff said contracted performance has been inconsistent since the city began contracting in 2021; municipal crews, staff argued, have greater accountability and local investment in quality of service.
Staff estimated the initial equipment cost at about $60,000 but told aldermen the figure could rise to roughly $75,000 once pusher boxes and additional outfitting needs are included. Staff recommended processing a budget amendment out of the general fund and returning with bids and vendor quotes, with the goal of purchasing equipment by September and training crews in October.
Officials discussed keeping a contractor on an on‑call basis for extreme events and unknown staff shortages, and several aldermen supported buying a larger pusher box to clear long downtown runs and move larger snow volumes quickly. Staff emphasized training and a designated operator for heavy equipment.
The board did not adopt an appropriation during the work session. Staff said they will solicit bids, prepare the required general‑fund budget amendment and return to the board with the numbers and procurement recommendations.
