Carmi City Council gathered as a group for about a half an hour Tuesday working through a handful of agenda items. Among them, it was agreed to move the November disconnection date for unpaid utilities to November 25th due to the Thanksgiving holiday. Council also authorized the closing of a section of Cherry Street and Main Cross between 4p – 7p to secure safety surrounding the city’s Trunk or Treat planned for October 31st from 5p – 7p. Two other ordinances were passed, one updating and establishing electric policies; the other putting the city in line with the state on net metering policies. The latter largely deals with solar, and officials say there are only currently between 2 and 9 customers (residential and commercial) whom it affects.
The council spent about half it’s time in session discussing how they wanted to move forward with regards to the city owned Skid Steer which is utilized by multiple departments. The current skid steer purchased used 2 years ago has been in and out of operation costing around $40,000 in repairs though it is currently operational. Mayor Pollard laid out the situation.
We purchased a used one 2 years ago and in the last year and a half we’ve put probably $40,000 worth of repairs into it. So we’re at the point we need to decide if you want to A) put out for bid and get rid of B) continue to put money into and try to fix it or C) look at buying a new one.
City Supervisor Brad Atteberry was on hand to provide scope.
Atteberry: The last time it was over there [for repair] it was several months so that’s when I reached out and said how much have we spent on it, how much is a new one, and how much would you give us for ours. They told us we’ve spent about $40,000, I think you guys have the papers, they’ll give us $24,500 for ours. And then, they’ve broke down some yearly payments if we want to go that route…4, 5 and 6 years. We went without one for years. We can’t match the production we get out of that with the mulching head, the grapple bucket, and we use it in several departments. We’ve got it back, we’re using it right now. It could go years without breaking.
Pollard: Or it could go 2 days.
Alderwoman Lacey Bradshaw asked about the initial investment in the 2011 Bobcat T870.
Bradshaw: What’d we pay for the one we have?
Mayor Pollard: It was right around $19,000
Alderman Tracy Nelson: It was a package deal, wasn’t it?
September 6, 2022 Council Meeting Minutes reveal the machine and implements were purchased for $65,000.
After several minutes of discussion, council members ultimately decided to table the matter in the hopes they could gather more information and potentially budget for it in the next fiscal year.
Carmi City Council adjourned at 5:57pm and will next meet on October 15th.
