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Council approves disposal of 1986 John Deere tractor and decommissioning of police rifles
Summary
Vernon Town Council approved disposal of an aged public-works tractor and authorized destruction and sale of decommissioned police rifles for parts.
The Vernon Town Council on July 15, 2025 approved disposal of fixed assets from the Department of Public Works, including a 1986 John Deere tractor, and separately approved disposal procedures for Vernon Police Department firearms that are two decades old.
Public Works staff noted the John Deere tractor dates to 1986 and indicated it has “too many” hours; a staff member estimated roughly 17,000 hours. The council approved the disposal request unanimously.
On the police equipment item, staff said the rifles are about 20 years old. The council was told the weapons would be destroyed to the point that they no longer meet ATF criteria for automatic firearms and then sold to a parts distributor; a staff speaker said, “part of the turning process is we actually have to take a saw to them and cut them in half ... They will no longer be functional as a firearm.” Councilors expressed relief at that explanation and voted unanimously to approve the disposition.
Both disposals were approved during the new-business consent and regular agenda votes and are standard municipal property actions; the police department said it will receive a trade-in amount for parts after destruction.
