The purchase of a combination sewer cleaner was discussed by the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety this week.
Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson told the board that the department has held off on purchasing the equipment for about five years to collect the funds for the expenditure. Davidson said $400,000 is budgeted for the purchase this year.
Davidson requested the approval of a proposal from Vactor to purchase a new machine. He said Vactor is an approved vendor with the National Joint Powers Alliance of which the city is a partner. The city will receive a discount with the purchase as a result of the partnership. The total cost of the combination sewer cleaner is $371,988 which includes a trade-in value of a 1990 model worth $18,000 and a discount of $9,185 through the National Joint Powers Alliance.
Davidson said the city owns three other machines through the company and trusts their performance and durability.
“All of our operators are familiar with the operations of this type of unit which obviously would save a considerable amount of training,” said Davidson. “We also inventory a large array of spare parts which are interchangeable with most of the Vactors as they come out.”
Davidson assured the board that this is a competitive proposal and the combination sewer cleaner is the best type of unit on the market.
The board unanimously approved the purchase.
