Hillsborough council approves consent agenda and $25,000 cap for street equipment purchases

The Hillsborough City Council approved its consent agenda and several purchases at its meeting. Mayor Mary opened the session, noting vouchers totaling $305,889.39 and minutes from the Feb. 17, 2026 meeting; the council adopted the consent agenda after a motion by Councilman McCarty and a second from Councilman Jorgensen.

The council then considered a request from the Street Department to buy three pieces of equipment. Street Department head Dale Dahlke described the needs and the estimated prices for each item, including a pavement saw (about $17,016.09) and a Billy Goat walk‑behind debris blower (about $2,140). After discussion about funding sources (capital improvement lines, equipment reserve, or cost‑sharing with water and sewer departments), Councilman McCarty moved and Councilman Jorgensen seconded a motion to approve the purchases for a price not to exceed $25,000. The motion carried.

Dahlke emphasized the operational benefits of the equipment for forthcoming summer projects: “The mastic is a tar that we melt to about 350 degrees,” he said when explaining new street repair techniques, and he told the council the department would continue a mix of concrete and asphalt projects in the coming year. The purchase authorization did not specify the exact funding source; staff indicated they would determine whether to draw from CIP, equipment reserve, or to allocate costs across departments.

The council recorded the votes on the floor and moved on to other business following the purchase approval.