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Board approves replacement Brush Bandit wood chipper after staff cites diesel preference
Summary
The Parks Board approved purchase of a Brush Bandit 19-inch wood chipper to replace a 2006 unit; city forester said the diesel model and remote control justify a roughly 16% cost overrun in the approved CIP.
The Waukesha Parks Board voted to approve the purchase of a Brush Bandit 19-inch capacity wood chipper as part of the city’s 2024 fleet CIP. Aaron Laener, city forester, told the board the unit will replace a 2006 model and that the department plans to operate three Brush Bandit units in combination with new material handlers planned for 2025.
Laener explained the diesel-powered configuration and remote-control capability are reasons the preferred machine exceeds the CIP estimate by about 16 percent: the department experienced an engine failure on a gasoline unit and prefers diesel for durability. “This 1 will come with a diesel if we can…and as well as remote control. It is a little bit over our budget by I think about 16%,” he said.
Board members asked whether existing units use gas or diesel; Laener said the oldest to be replaced is diesel but the next-newest is gas and had experienced an engine failure. The board moved and approved the purchase unanimously.
Why it matters: the purchase updates aging fleet equipment that supports tree and debris work across parks and rights-of-way. The diesel preference and the modest budget overrun reflect durability and lifecycle-cost considerations.
What’s next: procurement and deployment of the new chipper; the department said the item will integrate into the fleet and be used alongside planned material handlers in 2025.
