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Council considers buying heavy‑duty mower to replace contracted street mowing
Summary
Council discussed purchasing a heavy‑duty mower (demo/new options $21,650–$22,679) to reduce reliance on outside contractors that previously cost about $3,000–$3,500 per year. Staff said money exists in the streets budget; council asked staff to confirm warranty and life expectancy before purchase.
Levan, Utah — The council discussed the cost and benefits of buying a heavy‑duty mower to perform street and right‑of‑way mowing instead of contracting the work annually.
Public works staff said they demoed a tracked, heavy‑duty mower designed for rough terrain. Two purchasing options were discussed: a near‑new/demo machine priced at about $21,650 and a new unit at about $22,679. Councilmembers weighed that capital cost against recurring contractor prices, which in recent years fell in the roughly $3,000–$3,500 range but have become uncertain because contractors are harder to recruit.
Staff noted existing budget capacity in the streets line for equipment: roughly $30,000 remained in the streets budget after prior allocations. Councilmembers asked for additional information — specifically warranty length and expected service life (staff indicated an expectation in the range of 6–8 years for such equipment under heavy use), and whether municipal staff could operate and maintain the new machine. One councilmember recommended staff check warranty terms and life‑cycle cost estimates and text that data to council before executing a purchase.
No formal purchase vote occurred at the meeting. Staff said they will follow up with the vendor on warranty, expected life span, and confirm whether the purchase can be covered with existing budgeted funds.
