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Facility lead says hill mower is beyond repair; Martinsville City Park Board weighs $23,000–$45,000 replacement options
Summary
Facility team lead Eli told the Martinsville City Park Board that the Pro Z 900 hill mower suffered a catastrophic engine failure and is likely irreparable. He presented a $6,154.88 parts quote but urged replacement, offering municipal-priced estimates for new machines and recommending a Ventrac tractor for the hillside.
Eli, the park’s facility team lead, told the Martinsville City Park Board on July 14 that the Pro Z 900 hill mower experienced a catastrophic failure and the engine “is trash,” leaving the park without a reliable machine for the steep hillside by the pond.
Eli described bolts backing out, the engine falling from its cradle and shredding pulleys and the electric clutch. He said earlier attempts at repair by previous staff had used helicoils and silicone, and that the block has been compromised. “We could spend a lot of money for no reason,” Eli said, arguing repair is not recommended given the mower’s wear and the cost and labor involved.
He presented a parts-and-shipping quote from Jacoby of $6,154.88 but said that, with the machine’s current hours and damage, replacing the unit is probably more prudent. Eli provided three new-equipment estimates at municipal discounts: a higher-power Pro Z 972 (list about $38,199; roughly $23,000 after discount), an Altoz model (list about $25,799; roughly $21,000 after discount), and a Ventrac tractor with hillside attachment (approximately $45,006 before discounts). He noted the Ventrac would be the “proper machine” for a steep grade, offer many attachment options and have a longer life expectancy (around 5,000 hours when well maintained).
Board members pressed on financing and timing. One member noted the city has CDs coming to term and suggested reserve funds could be used; staff said pulling a CD early is possible but would forfeit some interest. The board discussed a possible special meeting to approve a purchase if the staff proposal and reserve figures justify it.
Eli recommended trading in older mowers while they still have market value and said the park’s mower fleet is aging: “We currently have three, an Exmark Laser Z 72 inch and a Laser Z 60 inch…we need to replace basically two of those,” he said. The board estimated it could spend $55,000–$75,000 to refresh the fleet depending on discounts and trade-in values.
Next steps: Eli will draft a written proposal outlining recommended models, trade-in options and exact costs. Ashley and staff will report available reserves and CD amounts so the board can determine whether to call a special session to approve a purchase.
