Keeping up to speed with the Highway Department

NORTH EAST — Town Highway Superintendent Robert Stevens reported on his department’s spring activites at the April 17 Town Board meeting.

"There’s been a lot of rain in March so we’ve been very busy," he said. "We’re taking down a lot of trees, and next week we’ll continue with some drainage work on North Center Street."

In May, the department will begin reclamation work, all of which is expected to be completed within a few week’s time.

Some repairs were needed to the town’s Gradall, which is used to level ground. Meanwhile, the town’s 1995 plow truck has a bad bearing, which was leaking. Aside from those issues, Stevens said the other equipment was holding up well.

The town, which put money in its budget to purchase a mower for the cemetery, discussed the issue. Reportedly the state contract is roughly $1,500 off the list price for the piece of equipment, which is a Kawasaki.

"It’s a good buy in that regard," town Supervisor Dave Sherman said.

"I had one like that before and they’re great mowers," town Councilman Dave McGhee said. "They’re wonderful machines."

According to Stevens the mower should arrive about 10 days after it’s ordered. It will be used for the three cemeteries in town as well as for Town Hall. The highway department also does a little bit of mowing by the Coleman Station section of the Harlem Valley Rail Trail.

The board voted unanimously to authorize $5,999 for Stevens to purchase the mower.

The town currently has two push mowers. The older one is in "decent" shape, Stevens said. He recommended the town sell it.

"The board finds this piece of equipment is going to become surplus in May. It can authorize Bob to put in an advertisement for bids," Sherman said, to which the board agreed.

Next up for discussion was the Highway Department’s equipment replacement plan schedule, which will ultimately replace the town’s 1998 Ford and the 2002 Chevrolet trucks.

"[The plan] is allowing us to move the 1998 out and move the next one down," Sherman explained.

Stevens has been looking at replacements, which have to meet certain requirements: half ton regular cabs with a 4x4 pickup base vehicle. He looked at two choices, one a 2008 Ford and one a 2008 Chevy.

"They’re both the same vehicle, just different brands," Stevens said. "The Chevy has a better warranty."

He also praised Millbrook Chevy dealer Audia Motors for its "excellent" service in years past. Stevens recommended the town go with the Chevy, which offers a 100,000 mile/five year warranty versus Ford’s 60,000 mile/five year coverage. The cost for the truck is $16,999.

"I would like to buy one for that price, wouldn’t you?" asked McGhee.

"This is very close to what we paid for the ‘02," Stevens said. "It isn’t far off."

"I’m impressed with the price," acknowledged Councilman Dan Briggs.

The Highway Department allows for the purchase through its equipment schedule. The town plans to borrow the $15,000 while Stevens will make up the $1,999 with his budget. The town will need to pass a resolution to permit the purchase, which it hopes to prepare by month’s end.