City council approves four Public Works equipment purchases totaling $75,728.96

Fort Atkinson City Council on April 15 approved four Public Works capital-equipment purchases intended to replace aging units and support routine street, airport and terrace maintenance.

Public Works Superintendent Williamson told the council the purchases — a Core Cut walk-behind pavement saw ($11,166), a Skag Turf Tiger zero-turn mower with mulching kit and fiberglass shade ($15,551.96), a Craftco Model 30 pavement crack router with dust-control kit ($22,250), and a wing-plow attachment and installation for fleet truck No. 4 ($26,761) — were competitively bid and funded through the city’s approved 2025 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and related sources. Williamson recommended approval of all four items.

Why this matters: the equipment replaces units with much longer-than-normal service lives (staff described existing saw and router at roughly 26–28 years of service) and will be used for street repairs, hydrant and airport maintenance, terrace mowing and winter snow operations. The purchases are intended to maintain service levels and reduce downtime for routine public-works tasks.

Most important facts

- Vendors and price points: Patriot Contractors Equipment (walk-behind saw) $11,166; Mid State/Midwestern Equipment and Thunderbird Industries (Skag mower + canopy) $15,551.96; Sherwin Industries (Craftco crack router) $22,250; Monroe Truck Equipment (wing plow and installation) $26,761. The council approved each purchase by voice vote.

- Budget and funding details: the pavement saw was originally budgeted at $14,000 (general fund CIP levy $4,000 + 2024–25 borrowing $10,000) and came in $2,834 under that estimate. The mower and router also came in under their line-item budgeted amounts. The wing plow exceeded its $18,000 budget by $8,761. City staff presented a table showing that, net across the five CIP purchases referenced in the memo, the net positive (savings) was $2,413.54 despite the wing-plow overage.

- Lifespan and resale: Williamson said the replaced units had lasted far beyond typical industry lifespans (6–8 years standard) and that the city will attempt to sell the old equipment at auction; resale value was not specified.

Council discussion and votes

Superintendent Williamson answered technical and operational questions about storage, use frequency and warranty/support arrangements, and described why the wing plow upfit required the original truck upfitter. Williamson also noted that material and labor markets influenced the wing-plow price.

Council members moved and seconded the motions authorizing purchases; each motion passed by unanimous voice vote (five members present). No council member voted no or abstained on the four purchase motions recorded on the agenda.

What happens next

Staff will place orders and schedule installations. The replaced units will be offered for sale (auction) or disposed of per city policy; a final resale amount was not specified in the meeting.