Milton approves $64,627 purchase of remote slope mower to speed stormwater maintenance

The Milton City Council on April 7 approved the purchase of a SCAG TreeFrog 52-inch remote slope mower through John Deere for $64,627.60, funded by a Department of Ecology capacity grant.

City Director Madden said the mower will reduce crew size for vegetation work near storm ponds and steep, wet areas, improving safety where crews currently use hand tools and are exposed to bees and poison oak. “This piece of equipment would allow us to operate slope mowing with fewer people and maintain a safe distance from the mower,” Madden said.

Madden told council the mower is an eligible expense under the city’s Department of Ecology grant; the stormwater capital fund has roughly $99,000 available under that capacity grant to cover the purchase. He estimated the equipment will be useful on roughly a third of the city’s storm ponds and other wet areas where machinery access is difficult.

Mayor Pro Tem Whitaker moved to approve the purchase; Council Member Whelan seconded. The motion passed (yes: 5, no: 0). Council members noted parts availability via John Deere dealers and that some comparable machines exist but are more expensive.

The purchase is intended to reduce manual labor, increase productivity, and help the city meet NPDES stormwater permit obligations. Staff said the city received a two-month extension to process grant reimbursement for the purchase and will follow the grant’s reimbursement procedures.