Mt. Vernon city spends big on new equipment

Public Works department to get new trucks, backhoe, mower; within budget
 
 
The Mt. Vernon Board of Aldermen met on Feb. 10 to discuss new vehicles, the sale of MARC equipment, and new electric poles for the city.
Perhaps the biggest issue of the evening was brought forward by Rob Harrington in the city administrator report. Harrington requested authority to sign an agreement with Enterprise Fleet Management in order to secure them new vehicles. As part of the agreement, the city will write a check to lease five new water vehicles and a vehicle for planning and zoning. Harrington said that the new trucks will need modifications to the beds and that the cost for such endeavors is included in his asking price. The water department had previously budgeted $168,000 for two rigs this year, thus saving more than $44,000. After this year, the annual payment for all six will be $81,000. The motion passed.
Also in the city administrator’s report was the matter of what to do with the equipment in the MARC, which was recently sold by the city. The city sold the kitchen and their equipment remaining in the MARC to the same company that purchased the building, Tents For All Events/Hoang and Marika Pham/Pham Holdings LLC, in the amount of $20,000. The rest of the equipment in the MARC will be auctioned off.

In other business
Director of Public Works Dustin Davis also delivered his report. He requested that the council approve the purchase of 30 new utility poles for the price of $18,990. The first 15 of these poles would be used for the double circuit build-out from the former MRC to Highway 39. The rest of the poles are to be used for upgrades in the industrial park. He noted that the shipping time on these poles should be less than 30 days. This motion was approved by the council.
Davis also requested the council buy a new mower for the parks department. He was looking to purchase a new 2025 Hustler Super rear discharge mower to minimize mowing time. The price of the unit is $29,000, but after trade-ins of the old mowers, the price should drop to $25,000. The motion was approved.
Davis also received approval to purchase an “extend-a-hoe” and a standard backhoe from Luby Equipment, setting the city back $57,500 and $51,000 for each respective order.
Public safety committee
At the end of the meeting, the board unanimously approved a bill that formed a standing committee for public safety in Mt. Vernon.