Agenda Packets - 1999/03/22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ozoD STAFF REPORT TO: Chuck Whiting DATE: March 18, 1999 City Administrator FROM: John D. Hammerschnudt TOPIC: Truck Golf Course Manager HISTORY: For the last three years I have made every effort to do projects in-house rather than thru the use of contractors. The cost savings to the golf course has been demonstrated in the amount of projects we are able to afford to do each year. The need for a larger, newer pick-up has always been recognized by staff and previous councils but until now has not been a high priority. For past projects we have used a 1992 Ford Ranger that was bought used in 1994. This truck was bought with the intention of running errands, carrying small loads, and transportation for city business. The truck currently has 79,750 miles on it and a value of about $1,500. We have hauled everything from fertilizer to rock to lumber etc. using this vehicle. Some of the time we were able to borrow a truck from public works. This was usually not possible because our busy times were the same as their busy times. Most of the time we just made more trips or used our personal vehicles to get the job done. In 1998 we started on several projects where we frequently needed a larger vehicle. To recondition the soil at the golf course due to construction errors is a long term $400,000 project that we can accomplish for far less with the right equipment. One of the processes of this project is to spread a sand/compost mix over the entire course as often as possible and use the vertidrain aerator to mix this in the top 16 inches. We try to do this while the course is in operation and if need be close the course for a day or two. We need a tractor to load, a tractor for the vertidrain, and a heavy duty pick-up to pull sand spreader. Last year we tried to use the Ranger but either had to be going downhill on dry ground or if the load shifted the spreader full of sand would lift the back of the pick-up off the ground. As a result we used our personal vehicles with no reimbursement to complete this project. The Ranger is also inadequate for hauling fertilizer, towing rental equipment, or towing trailers to transport our equipment, whether it be for repair or for rental to another city or golf course. We also could use a larger truck for debris hauling, for hauling landscape materials, bridge repair materials, etc. This truck was approved by the council in 1998 but I held off on the purchase in case the new council had some input as to whether we should try to contract our specialty equipment out in order to offset the cost of it. This could make some difference as to buying a 3/4 ton or a 1/2ton pick-up and possibly some different options.