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Superior council approves purchase of brush chipper to prepare for possible emerald ash borer infestation
Summary
The Common Council authorized the purchase of a brush chipper under the Minnesota state bid contract; staff said the machine can chip ash wood to the size required for acceptable treatment of emerald ash borer–infested material and will reduce annual lease costs.
The Common Council approved the purchase of a new 2,010 brush chipper under the Minnesota state bid contract for $40,391.09 to increase the city's capacity to manage tree material if the emerald ash borer arrives.
Assistant Public Works Director Goetzmann told councilors the chipper “has the unique ability to chip trees that we cut down to 1 by 1 by 1, meaning 1 inch by 1 inch by 1 inch, which is what is considered acceptable treatment of ash trees that have been infested by the emerald ash borer.” Goetzmann said the infestation has not been detected in the city but is moving through Wisconsin and Minnesota. He said owning the chipper will position the city to address an infestation and will offset annual lease costs, which in some years have approached $40,000.
Councilors moved and approved the purchase by voice vote after brief discussion. No individual roll-call votes were recorded in the provided transcript. Councilors noted the purchase will increase operational efficiency as soon as the unit arrives and reduce recurring leasing expenses.
The item was presented as a Minnesota state bid purchase; staff indicated finance department input on lease-cost comparisons. The council's approval authorizes staff to complete the procurement under the referenced state contract.
