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Public works, streets and utilities highlight aging equipment and costly replacements
Summary
Supervisors for streets, sanitation, garage and utilities told commissioners about aging vehicles and machines — a 2004 backhoe (~$140,000 replacement), a street sweeper (~$310,000), and a worn 2014 Mack sanitation truck — and urged prioritization, noting equipment failures disrupt multiple services.
Multiple public-works supervisors told the board their departments are operating with aging equipment that is becoming costly to maintain and that delayed replacements risk service disruptions.
Streets Supervisor Mike Shew said many town streets are breaking up and urged commissioners to inspect conditions; he described a 2004 backhoe with 6,526 hours that would cost about $140,000 to replace and a street sweeper on state contract for about $310,000. "Many of the streets are breaking up. The town has not had any major paving in a while and needs it badly," Shew said.
Sanitation Supervisor Steve Shumate asked to raise maintenance and repair allocations from $35,000 to $65,000 to cover major component repairs — noting a single major cylinder replacement can cost about $13,000 — and described the 2014 Mack truck as worn-out and costly to patch. Director David Webb said the sanitation truck is a specialty vehicle that cannot be readily rented if it breaks.
Garage and utilities leadership requested a new service truck (estimated $170,000) because the 2004 crane-equipped vehicle is a safety liability and is used frequently across departments to pull pumps at multiple pump stations. Public Utilities Director David Poore and plant supervisors also highlighted needs in water meters (new meters ~$320 each), spare parts and an ongoing $60,000 bid for the 13th Street repair project.
Directors recommended prioritizing the sanitation truck, street sweeper and backhoe in that order, and asked commissioners to consider financing options and possible used-vs-new trade-offs.
Commissioners requested more precise cost estimates, financing scenarios and service-impact analyses before final decisions.
