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Memorandum 18-032 Capital Request for Purchase of a New Brushcutter
Memorandum ID:
18-032
Memorandum Status:
Information Only
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Details
MEMORANDUM 18-032
To: Katie Koester, City Manager
Through: Carey Mayer, Public Works Director
From: Dan Gardner, PW Superintendent
Date: March 2, 2018
Subject: Capital Request for Purchase of new Brush Cutter
A request was made in the 2018 operating budget for a new brush cutter in the amount of $82,000. Ultimately, $50,000 was approved. With the unanticipated savings from the vac truck purchase (approximately $37,000 savings), this department is requesting an increase of $29,950 to make the brush cutter purchase, in the amount of $79,950. Bids ranged from $79,950 to $83,968.
The brush cutter is a power head, boom arm assembly, and mower head attached to a loader that is used to mow vegetation along roadways within the right-of-way (ROW). These operations open up sight distance areas at intersections, and minimize ROW creep of spruce and alders. The existing unit is 21 years old and has undergone extensive repairs over the last few years. Each year, as the unit leaves the yard, the expectation is that it won't last through the day before needing repairs that can be days or weeks long. When this occurs, all brushing operations stop. This occurred during the 2016 cutting season, and operations stopped before we were able to get halfway through the road system. During the 2017 cutting season, operations lasted less than one week, and the operations halted altogether. The boom assembly is damaged to the point of no longer being able to be repaired. Without a new brush cutter, we will have no ability to continue the mowing operations.
Due to the complex nature of this unit with many moving parts, and the fact that the boom assembly can undergo severe stress, a used unit is not being considered. We already have a used unit. We need a brush cutter that is reliable due to the short mowing season we have.
Recommendation: Approve an additional $29,950 to the existing funding of $50,000 for the purchase of a new brush cutter from Craig Taylor Equipment.
CC: Melissa Jacobsen, City Clerk
