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Item No. 7O Meeting Date: May 7, 2007 Type of Business: CB WK: Work Session; PH: Public Hearing; CA: Consent Agenda; CB: Council Business City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Steven Dazenski, Supervisor of Parks Department Item Title/Subject: Resolution 7066 Approving the Purchase of a Replacement Trim Mower for the Parks Division Background: In 2001, the City purchased a Toro 328 trim mower. This mower has been used to perform all trim mowing of the parks and athletic fields located in the City. This totals approximately 140 acres. Due to its continuing use, the mower deck is showing advanced signs of dirt erosion. Dirt erosion occurs when dirt is picked up by the blade turbulence and thrown against the underside of the deck at a very high velocity. The result is a thinning or wearing of the metal allowing the deck to buckle or twist. Frequent repair is required to avoid an uneven cut and scalping of turf. We could purchase only the deck and components but this alone would cost in excess of $5,000.00; this would still leave us with a worn tractor unit displaying 1,547 hours and questionable reliability. The City’s mechanic has performed an evaluation of this mower and has documented its condition. Attached is a copy of the evaluation report. Discussion: This mower has been scheduled for replacement in 2007 and monies have been allocated in the 2007 budget for its replacement. It is currently in a usable condition because of the City’s maintenance program and therefore retains a salvage value. We will also be trading in a Toro 325 trim mower, which we received from the golf course. This mower is inoperable and has no deck. Staff has performed an extensive study and evaluation of mowers that are designed to meet our needs. In this evaluation Staff has determined that the Jacobson Turfeat trim mower would be a suitable replacement for the Toro 328 trim mower.