Agenda Packets - 2015/07/27 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 7E Meeting Date: July 27, 2015 Type of Business: CB Administrator Review: ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Don Peterson, Public Works Supervisor Item Title/Subject: Resolution 8438, Approving the Purchase of an Under Body Plow for Unit #445 and New Plow Controls on Unit #447. Introduction: The City Council is asked to approve the purchase of an under body plow for unit #445 and upgraded plow controls on unit #447. Background/Discussion: The Public Works Department is responsible for overseeing the operation of snow and ice control on city streets and parking lots. The Public W orks Department uses single axle dump trucks for this task as well as, hauling material, storm debris, and street maintenance activities such as asphalt paving. While there is not currently any restriction on the amount of salt used on roads, emphasis has been on government agencies to reduce salt usage. Public Works Staff continues to look for Best Management Practices to adopt or use to be more efficient in time and material savings. One way to achieve this would be installing an under body plow / scraper on truck #445. By installing a scraper, snow and ice would be cleared to a minimum amount meaning less salt would be needed to clear the street to black pavement. The Public Works Department had also installed GPS units in the plow trucks. These units will track how much salt is being applied at intersections, curves and hills throughout the city. Staff will be able to look at application trends and the effectiveness of salt products to determine BMP’s that should be used for the City of Mounds View. Unit #445 current plow controls will not operate with the GPS equipment, an upgrade to the plow controls is required. Staff has received a quote for both installing the under body plow and plow controls from Towmaster of Litchfield MN. Towmaster is on the Cooperative Purchasing Vendor list through the State on MN. The cost for the under body plow with installation is $14,710.00. This item is not in the 2015 budget. Funding would come from the cost savings earlier this year when purchasing the two new mowers, Staff secured and council approved the purchase of two mowers at a cost savings of $ 21,351.08 (fund 460-4360-7030). The cost of the upgrade plow controls is in the 2015 budget in fund 100-4472-7030 for $5,600. Staff received the quote to upgrade the controls for $3,588.00. Recommendation: Staff recommends approval of Resolution 8438 for the purchase of an under body plow for unit #445 at $14,124.00 with an added 10% contingency not to exceed $1,412.00 for any unforeseen issue while installing the under body plow, for a total cost of $15,536.00. Staff also recommends purchase and installation of new plow controls in unit #447 at a cost of