Lebanon council approves multiple heavy-equipment and utility vehicle purchases

The Lebanon City Council approved ordinances authorizing the purchase of multiple heavy-equipment items for the street and electric departments, with the council declaring the replaced units surplus. City staff said the purchases were budgeted or included in the capital improvement plan and that long manufacturer lead times mean delivery could take more than a year.

For the street department, staff described a plan to buy a Caterpillar excavator and declared a 2005 Case excavator surplus; the total purchase price including a tilt ditching bucket was reported at $265,000 and staff said proceeds from the sale of the old unit were expected to offset the additional cost. For the electric department, the council approved three Sourcewell-contract purchases from Altec: a digger-derrick truck to replace a 2011 unit, a material handling bucket truck listed at $295,723 to replace a 2007 model, and an AM 55E package bucket truck. Staff and council discussed that trucks ordered in prior years still had long waits and that buying now often secures a place in production lines.

Council votes were recorded for each ordinance and each bill became a city ordinance (pursuant roll calls at the meeting). Council members asked whether prices were locked; staff said prices were subject to the Sourcewell contract terms and that the purchase secures a place in production rather than immediate delivery. Mike (staff member) and Travis (staff member) presented the items; council approved first and second readings during the meeting.