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Oakdale council approves purchase of parks equipment, using parks replacement fund
Summary
City council approved buying a used turf sweeper and other park equipment totaling about $112,554, drawing on the parks replacement fund and a $3,000 reserve appropriation.
The Oakdale City Council on Feb. 18 adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to purchase park equipment — including a used Harper Hawk turf sweeper — and to appropriate $3,000 from the parks replacement fund reserves to cover costs.
The purchases are funded from the parks replacement fund (Fund 549). Staff listed the equipment as: one Harper Hawk turf sweeper for $54,187.50; one Toro Z Master zero-turn mower for $24,629.68; one Toro Workman GTX utility vehicle for $20,129.21; and one deck-over trailer for $13,607.67. Staff recommended the purchases as a cost-saving alternative to new equipment priced substantially higher.
Staff said acquiring gently used equipment saved the city a substantial amount compared with the new price. "It's a substantial savings on this piece of equipment. New, it's $86,000," the presenting staff member said, describing the sweeper purchase and the savings the city realized.
Council members asked operational questions about compatibility (for example, whether the new trailer would carry the larger mower) and about the capacity and storage location for an electric utility vehicle. A council member asked whether Sourcewell procurement was used; staff confirmed the Sourcewell cooperative procurement process produced the lowest price and that Sourcewell competitively solicits participating vendors.
Staff described fiscal context for the purchases: the parks replacement fund began the fiscal year with a balance around $2,400,000; planned park expenditures for the year total about $1,800,000, leaving an anticipated balance of roughly $594,149 after those projects are complete. Staff said the $3,000 appropriation from reserves would not materially affect the fund's health.
A council member praised the procurement approach, saying the savings of roughly $30,000 on the sweeper was "a big chunk of change that you just saved at the city of Oakdale." The council then voted unanimously to approve the resolution.
The items will be purchased from the parks replacement fund (Fund 549); staff noted plans for ongoing replacement and vehicle/fleet planning in future budgets.
