The streets of Parksville will soon enjoy a new sweeper.
Parksville city council made the decision at their May 6 Zoom meeting to purchase a 2021 Elgin Crosswind SE Street Sweeper for $303,500.
The 2020 budget allocated $280,000 towards a new sweeper and city staff said the “cost of ownership is anticipated to be significantly less” and that the current sweeper is expensive to maintain.
The extra money needed will be transferred over from the general fund to the equipment reserve capital budget. The city is receiving approximately $50,000 from trading in the old sweeper to the company – which is included in the $303,500 purchase price.
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The city has been overdue for a new sweeper for a few years – the current one is from 2007 and was meant to be replaced in 2017. The street sweeper is one of the most expensive pieces of equipment for the city and is used every day.
Council discussed if a new sweeper was really needed now. Coun. Marilyn Wilson brought up concern around pulling money from the general funds.
“The cost to maintain the sweeper, just to give you an example, over the last nine years is almost $200,000,” said Kelly Robinson, manager of operations for the city. “So, it’s an expensive piece to keep on the road and there’s a fair bit of maintenance that would have to go into it if we wanted to keep it any additional years.”
Lucky Butterworth said he thinks the reserves are “healthy enough” to cover the extra cost.
The motion to purchase the sweeper passed unanimously.
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