Council approves heavy equipment purchases

The Sheboygan Falls Common Council endorsed a pair of Department of Public Works (DPW) equipment purchases, during a semimonthly meeting Tuesday, April 6, at the City Hall Municipal Building.

During a City Services Committee meeting, DPW Director Mike Mersberger discussed the benefits of adding a mini excavator and skid steer to the department’s equipment fleet.

Mersberger said a mini excavator would be beneficial to expedite work on an upcoming $225,000 stormsewer project on Guilford Street.

“The Guilford Street storm-sewer project is part of our five-year street improvement program,” he said. “It is a project our department can handle very well with the right equipment.

“The mini excavator has many benefits for this project and many others that we take on a regular basis. It is able to rotate 360 degrees and has a zero clearance. It has great versatility and digging capabilities.”

Aldermen Thomas McCue and Terry Van Engen questioned the need to purchase the mini excavator.

“I’m wondering if renting or leasing might be an option for this project, to make sure it is the right piece of equipment for us, before considering a purchase,” McCue said. “This might be a good idea to avoid purchasing something that we aren’t total satisfied with.”

Jerry Benzschawel noted that the DPW has spent a considerable amount of time researching the best available mini excavators on the market.

“We have done extensive research and put a lot of thought into this,” he said. “We have 800 feet of storm sewer to put in this summer, and a mini excavator would go a long way in helping us complete the project in good time. I’m confident this is the right piece of equipment for our department.”

The council approved a motion, allowing the DPW to seek proposals for acquiring a mini excavator for the upcoming Guilford Street storm-sewer project, at a price not to exceed $59,500.

City Services Committee Chair Anne Krauter said the storm-sewer project will commence at the conclusion of the current school year and conclude before the start of the 2010-11 school year.

The council also approved the purchase of a replacement skid steer from Miller, Bradford and Reeseburg, at a price not to exceed $45,371.

“This is a used skid steer that has high-flow auxiliary hydraulic capabilities,” Mersberger said. “It is a very good machine, with just 750 hours on it. A high-quality used skid steer like this is hard to find.

“This purchase is part of our capital-improvement budget,” he said.

The purchase includes a trade-in of the department’s 1992 skid steer.

In other business, the council approved the city’s 2009 NR216 annual compliance report and a well permit for David Schneider of 120 Range Line Road.

In addition, an electrical-contractor license application was approved for James Reimer.

City Clerk-Treasurer Joel Tauschek discussed a letter submitted to the city by Carrie, Jim and Rosie Wunsch and John and Carman Roska, expressing displeasure with the delivery method for the Shoreline Chronicle.

The authors of the letter use the word “littering” to describe the twice-a-week delivery of the free advertising periodical on the property of city residents.

The letter asks city officials to help clean up the city by stopping the perceived littering.

Mayor Randy Meyer said the matter has been referred to the Sheboygan Falls Police Department.

Meyer spoke about purple ribbons that will be attached to light poles in the city, in conjunction with the Sheboygan County Relay for Life event at Sheboygan Falls High School July 16-17.

The Finance and Personnel Committee met in closed session to engage in labor contract negotiations with the Sheboygan Falls Police Association Local 210.

The next Sheboygan Falls Common Council meeting will take place Tuesday, April 20, in the Council Chambers at the City Hall Municipal Building at 6:30 p.m.