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Council weighs replacing worn mules and a Kubota versus delaying a dump-truck purchase
Summary
Councilmembers debated repairing a damaged Kubota, buying one or two new Kawasaki mules, and delaying a one‑ton dump truck in the capital improvement plan to reallocate funds for smaller utility vehicles.
Price City councilmembers and Public Works staff discussed fleet needs after a loop accident damaged a utility vehicle and another unit reached high hours and age limits.
A councilmember who attended the fleet committee said one of the city's ‘mules’ was damaged in a rollover with about $5,000 in damage reported; another mule is 24 years old and the department considers it past useful life. The committee discussed buying two new Kawasaki mules to replace aging units, noting some Kubota machines lacked torque for cemetery hauling.
Councilmembers weighed options: repair the damaged 2016 Kubota at an estimated $5,000–$6,000 or invest in one new Kawasaki mule now and fix the Kubota to delay a second purchase. One councilmember said a full repair on the damaged unit could run as high as $56,000 if structural/frame work is required; staff said prior repairs had ranged in the low thousands.
Councilmembers also discussed postponing a budgeted one‑ton dump truck in the capital improvement plan (CIP) for one to two years to free funds for mules, but acknowledged that delaying the dump truck could increase downtime for burial and maintenance operations. Staff noted supply‑chain issues for parts and lead times for replacement equipment.
No formal motion or vote was taken; the item remained on the agenda for further discussion and councilmembers asked staff to provide clearer repair estimates and pricing from state contract vendors and local suppliers before deciding.
