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Board approves parks maintenance equipment and a CIP pickup as part of push to fix deferred maintenance
Summary
Trustees authorized three purchases for parks maintenance: a John Deere tractor (net bid ~$28,915 after $23,750 trade-in), a Smithville ride-on field rake ($27,002.75), and a budgeted three-quarter-ton pickup truck from the CIP. Trustees debated alternatives, fleet strategy and long-term maintenance funding.
Cascade trustees approved a set of parks and facilities purchases intended to address long-standing maintenance gaps at Cascade Rec Park and other township sites.
Director Zwick reviewed three bids for a replacement tractor, noting a trade-in value of $23,750 for a 2006 John Deere and recommending purchase of a John Deere through local dealer GreenMark for $28,915 (low bid). Zwick said the tractor trade-in and new purchase align with a January budget amendment that allocated $179,000 for equipment.
The board also approved a Smithville ride-on utility field rake at $27,002.75. Zwick said the machine includes a nail drag and leveling features that improve field safety and reduce weed control and pesticide needs; trustees debated whether a less expensive pull-behind drag (examples cited at roughly $900) could suffice, but staff said the ride-on unit produces better playing-field results and supports one-person maintenance operations.
Finally, the board approved a budgeted three-quarter-ton pickup truck from the capital improvement plan to replace an aging 2014 vehicle; staff said the truck on a dealer lot was competitively priced and would be upfitted with a plow and lights. Trustees asked staff to evaluate long-term fleet strategy (whether to add half-ton people movers in the future) and to check local dealer pricing; staff agreed to follow up but noted the unit on the lot could be sold before the next meeting.
Board members framed the purchases as "baby steps" to fix deferred maintenance and said rental revenue from expanded field use could help fund ongoing upkeep. Motions to approve each purchase carried.
