Council seeks better tracking after recurring tool and battery replacements

Midway City council members raised concerns about recurring annual spending on tools and batteries and asked public works for clearer inventory tracking and monthly reporting by vehicle or truck.

Council members pointed at a $60,000 annual figure referenced in the packet for tools and asked whether that spending is accurate and recurring. Staff said tools are distributed across multiple lines and vehicles, not always consolidated, and that some amounts are for stocking new trucks for additional employees. Staff said much of the apparent annual spend reflects both purchases to replenish worn or broken power tools and the need to fully equip additional newly assigned trucks.

Public works staff described current practices to increase accountability: tagging assets (previously used asset tags reading 'Midway City'), photographing purchases placed on a truck as backup documentation and coding receipts with vehicle identifiers when possible. Staff said batteries wear out quickly, particularly after wet work in water leaks, and much of the replacement spending is for batteries, grinders and sawzalls. Council members asked for monthly summaries that itemize tool spending by truck or by shop and show how much has been spent against the tools budget.

Council directed staff to continue and expand inventory tagging and to provide periodic reports (monthly or quarterly as the manager recommends) showing tools purchased by truck and total spending compared with the budgeted amount. There was no vote; this was a request for operational controls and reporting.

Staff also agreed to examine whether tools can be standardized across trucks and to provide an inventory list of specialized and common toolsets.