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Madison board approves purchase of wheel loader for sewer plant; older unit to be sold to street department
Summary
The Board of Public Works and Safety authorized buying a CAT wheel loader for the wastewater treatment plant, citing safety features and a 60‑month premier warranty; the plant's existing loader will be sold to the street/TSO department for $20,000. Funding will come from the sewer capital budget.
The Board of Public Works and Safety on Aug. 4 authorized the acquisition of a new wheel loader for the city wastewater treatment plant and approved selling the plant’s current loader to the street/TSO department for $20,000.
City staff presented a comparison of four loaders and recommended a CAT model because it offered safety features and a longer warranty. "The sale point to me was the premier warranty for 60 months," said Bridal, a city staff member who led the equipment review. Bridal also told the board the CAT quote includes a premier warranty and safety items such as a rearview camera; a comparable John Deere offer did not include the premier warranty.
The purchase will be paid from the sewer capital budget. Bridal said the sewer capital account currently has about $800,000; the board did not specify the loader’s exact purchase price in public discussion. Bridal confirmed the city will not lease and prefers to avoid financing costs.
Board members asked operational questions about dealer location, warranty, loaner availability and resale. Bridal said dealers brought test units to Madison, that the CAT dealer quote came from Indianapolis, and that dealers typically provide a loaner if one is in stock. The board also discussed using the loader for other tasks after modest modifications, such as adding a broom for sweeping.
The board voted to authorize the purchase and the transfer/purchase of the smaller wheel loader to the TSO/street department. No formal roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript.
The board noted the city has been borrowing a street‑department loader to meet plant needs and that owning a properly sized unit should reduce that cross‑department strain. The city did not set a timeline for delivery or state whether the purchase requires additional approvals.
Details captured in the meeting packet included a spreadsheet of quotes, a warranty sheet, and comparisons of cycle times and safety features; those documents were referenced but not read in full at the meeting.
