Council debates replacing street sweeper after city-owned machine catches fire; staff to return with options in two weeks

City street staff told council their street sweeper caught fire and is out of service, prompting a review of options for keeping scheduled spring and event sweeping.

Street Superintendent Dave Therby said subcontracting a sweep costs about $14,000 per pass and that a new sweeper can cost around $300,000; used sweepers with low hours were found in the $100,000–$140,000 range. Therby and staff said renting a sweeper for Canal Days and the following week could cover the downtown and then allow the city to re-evaluate finances in July. The superintendent also reported increased debris volumes over recent years, from roughly two dump-truck loads per sweeping to about five, and tied increases to construction traffic and general road use.

Council discussed multiple options: contracting out single sweeping events, renting a sweeper for a short period, or buying a used machine and capitalizing the purchase. Council members expressed concerns about continuing to spend street department operating funds for sidewalks and curb repairs that city code assigns to property owners; one council member said curb repairs are a city responsibility when related to stormwater management and asked that capital funds rather than the street operating budget be used for equipment purchases.

Council instructed staff to continue investigating used sweepers (including a unit in Tennessee with low hours), rental availability from nearby municipalities, and potential grant opportunities (the health department liaison was asked to check for any relevant grants). Staff and finance said they would evaluate an appropriation or purchase order in two weeks and bring back a financing plan and options for acquiring a sweeper or contracting sweeping services. No purchase was approved at the meeting.