North East Highway Department update

NORTH EAST — Highway Superintendent Robert Stevens appeared before the Town Board at its October meeting to report on his department’s monthly activities. He informed the board about a number of issues.

Bids on the table

One of the first items in his report dealt with sealed bids for gravel, sand, diesel fuel, blacktop, top soil, crushed stone, asphalt materials and delivery prices for all of the above.

Stevens made a number of purchase suggestions based on the lowest prices for the board to consider. He warned that once the delivery charge or the expense to travel to pick up the items was added, the costs could change substantially.

The same theory applied to purchasing fuel for the town.

“Due to our small storage tank, I would definitely recommend staying with somebody local,� Stevens said to the board.

The town has one more year left in its contract with the state for its gasoline supply. For heating oil, it is in contract with Dutchess County, through which it gets supplied by Bottini Fuel. There is one year left in that contract as well.

Following Stevens’ report, the board voted unanimously to accept the bids he recommended for 2011.

Preparing for winter

The next matter of business had to do with the Department of Public Works seeking a resolution from the town for snow and ice control, which is passed every year. Town Supervisor Dave Sherman forwarded that request to Attorney to the Town Warren Replansky. An intermunicipal agreement is also needed as the county wants to be part of the process.

“Everything is exactly the same as we’ve been doing for 20 years, it’s just on paper now,� Stevens said. “No fees have changed. The county uses the New York State Department of Transportation [DOT] rental rates.�

“That’s better than them establishing a rate chart and then forgetting about it,� Sherman said. “The only thing I would ask is for Warren [Replansky] to take a look at it.�

Heavy traffic

They next moved on to the issue of commercial vehicles being prohibited from traveling on Irondale Road, which is not able to handle the heavy traffic. “Commercial vehicles� are being defined by New York state vehicle and traffic law; so agreed the Town Board and Stevens.

The tractor debate

The highway superintendent then addressed specs for tractor and lawn equipment the board had asked him to draw up. Stevens suggested a full frame, four-wheel drive machine. He was met with reluctance from Councilman Steven Merwin.

“If you look at the county, what do they have? Everything is two-wheel drive; four-wheel drive is great if you’re not driving all the time,� Merwin said. “This is a big tractor. You’re talking about a 100-horsepower tractor to mow the sides of the roads with. It comes down to dollars and cents.�

“What do you think of a four-wheel versus a two-wheel?� Councilman Tim Shaffer asked Stevens.

“I think it [the four-wheel tractor] would be very good in the landfill,� Stevens replied.

Merwin mentioned there will be a big difference in the price of tires. Councilman Dave McGhee agreed, but said it won’t matter as much if they’re not radials, which he said they don’t have to be. He also said it’s important to make the purchase now, rather than waiting. He expressed little preference regarding which machine is chosen.

“A lot of it is how it’s driven,� Merwin acknowledged. “I’ve seen the state beat the living snot out of them and I would like to think our guys won’t do that. I would like to see us save money for the taxpayers but still get a decent machine.�

Stevens said the bigger tractor, with the full frame (the John Deere 6,000 series), will last longer and is a better machine. He also said the four-wheel drive tractor can switch off and revert to a two-wheel drive. The 6,000 series costs $97,479.27, while the John Deere 5,000 series (without a full frame) costs $93,697.96.

Sherman suggested the Highway Committee discuss the matter and get back to the Town Board with a decision. McGhee, who is on that committee, expressed frustration at the idea.

“What do you want me and Timmy to go and talk about this and tell you the same goddamn thing?� he asked. “I don’t want some little piece of junk, so that we buy something smaller and then we wreck it. I don’t know what else we can go over, we can talk all we want.�

No conclusion was reached.

A generous offer

It was then mentioned that resident Lenny Morrison had offered the use of a tractor and brush hog to tend to the town’s landfill, if the town provided an operator. The equipment would be provided by the farm Morrison manages. All the town has to do is replace the fuel after the equipment is used. It also has to inform its insurance carrier and verify its coverage.

“It’s a very kind offer,� Sherman said.

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