City council approves purchase of two asphalt transporters to expand pothole patching capacity

The Pontiac City Council on April 29 approved buying two Falcon 4-ton asphalt transporters with hotbox trailers to expand the city’s in-house pothole-patching capacity.

The equipment purchase was presented by Public Works Director Larry Searls, who said the city had previously relied on an outside contractor and found the costs and logistics favored owning additional patching equipment. “We could own them for a serviceable life of eight years,” Searls said. He told council that relying on contractor patching had cost the city roughly $301,000 in a prior year and that city crews were currently reducing a complaints backlog.

The City Clerk recorded a unanimous roll-call vote approving the purchase: Councilmembers James, Jones, McGinnis, Parker, Rutherford, Carrington and Goodman all voted “Yes.” The motion carried, listed in the minutes as “7 yeas, no nays.”

Why it matters: City officials said two additional patching units will let Public Works respond faster and perform longer-lasting treatments where neighborhoods show repeated pothole problems. The director said the city would keep using contractors for some high‑maintenance pavement-preservation activities but that the new equipment will reduce recurring complaints and reliance on expensive outside crews.

What’s next: The equipment will be delivered and put into use; the director said the machines could be used this season with fuller deployment next year. He also told council the department is “busting at the seams” for indoor storage and will manage trailer storage accordingly.

Speakers quoted

Larry Searls, Public Works Director: “We evaluated that contract… there was nothing that really made sense for us other than to buy two patchers that we’re going to own for a serviceable life of eight years.”