WESTOVER — Westover’s council bought some equipment the city needs, took the next step to raise pay for Westover employees and accepted bids on two construction projects at its regular meeting on Monday night.
The city will hold its annual spring clean up May 13-17, City Clerk Sandie Weis said. Every owner occupied residence will be allowed to place an extra pick-up truck load worth of trash out for collection on their regular garbage day, Mayor Dave Johnson said.
It’s important that residents don’t place the trash out early because the city has had problems with scavengers going through looking for stuff to take and leaving neighborhoods trashed. Johnson said to help alleviate the problem police will spend the night before each pick up patrolling the area. Rentals and apartment will not be able to participate in the program.
Council voted unanimously to purchase a new tractor, need van and new boom lift. Council member Leonard Smith was absent and did not vote.
The tractor costs $55,000 and is being purchased from Long Hauling & Excavation, Inc., out of Waterford, Pennsylvania. It was the cheapest of the three tractor bids. Johnson said the tractor will ultimately save money because less people will be needed to maintain the grass.
The boom lift, essentially a mechanical ladder on wheels, will replace one the city was borrowing but had to return, Johnson said. The council voted to purchase the cheapest – for $34,350 from American Telehandler.
A new 2015 Chevrolet Express 3500 will carry the city’s 4-man grass cutting team. Johnson said the passenger van’s back seats are removed so the crew can carry all the equipment it needs. The van will cost $17,995 and has 52,624 miles.
Johnson presented council with three options in the $10,000-$12,000 range and two options in the $16,000-17,000 range. He explained he wanted to give council a wide variety on the cost and number of miles. The van council voted to purchase had the lowest miles with 52,624.
The city will also spend $46,600 for about a half-block worth of repair work on the Holland Avenue wall, across from Paula’s Hotspot. The contract was awarded to Anderson Excavating, LLC.
Anderson was the cheapest bid and the recommendation of The Thrasher Group – the city’s engineering firm on retainer.
Council voted unanimously to give city employees a pay raise in the upcoming fiscal year on second reading. The raise will be adopted if it passed a third reading next meeting.
