Council approved last week a request to replace a backhoe that was starting to show its age.
"This RFD (request for decision) is in replacement of a very critical piece of equipment," said Jim Hall, Sundre's operations manager, referring to the municipality's Case backhoe that had been in service since 1999.
"It's certainly outlived its expectations for operations, but it's starting to show some pretty major wear," Hall told council during the Dec. 4 meeting, adding town staff approached some suppliers to find the best option.
"We got a fairly good deal on a trade-in of our Case tractor, and we submitted the three quotes to finance."
The machine is used primarily for emergency excavations in the municipality's gas system, but also gets used for numerous other digs involved in, for example, water and wastewater projects, he said.
"In 2014, we made it a general fleet unit so that other departments, such as community services, could use it on small projects."
In reviewing the operations manager's report, Coun. Richard Warnock wondered whether the 800 hours on the recommended replacement unit ó a 2017 John Deere ó was an excessive amount of hours to accumulate in just one year.
"It was a demonstrator, so they took it to other municipalities and that's where the hours came up. In our world, 800 hours is just a break-in point, and we have seven years' full warranty just like a brand new tractor, so we're not concerned," replied Hall.
Coun. Cheri Funke also sought further explanation on the source of funding for the roughly $82,000 expense, which includes a roughly $20,000 trade-in value of the outgoing backhoe.
"I just need clarification on the motion. In the discussion points, it says that the funds will come from the gas reserve, but the RFD says it (the backhoe) is used by all the departments," she said.
"Why are the other departments not putting money towards this?"
Vic Pirie, director of finance and administration, said the funds for a replacement unit were initially set up through the municipality's gas service surpluses because that was the department the machine was used for. However, it has since then become more of an all-purpose vehicle, so the cost of a new unit in the future will be drawn from the fleet reserve.
Council went on to unanimously carry administration's recommended motion to approve the purchase of the 2017 John Deere backhoe and additional bucket at a net cost not to exceed $85,000, which will be funded through allocated funds from the gas reserve.
