City defrosts snow removal policy, purchases new Bobcat

PATEROS – With the snow season not far off, the public works is turning its attention to the city’s snow removal policy and the use of existing equipment to respond to city and street needs during the winter months.
City administrator/public works supervisor Jord Wilson told city council members that the dump truck the city purchased a few years ago came equipped with a sanding unit and anti-icing unit “that was about a $60,000 piece of equipment,” Wilson said.
Wilson said he consulted a specialist knowledgeable with anti-icing equipment and was advised that with a little attention, the anti-icing unit is ready to go. Accordingly, Wilson added anti-icing activities to this year’s snow policy.
“September is the month that we remind residents of the snow policy and the parking policy,” Wilson said.
The public works team has been working on a plan to get the most efficient use out of the snow removal equipment the city has available. A new Bobcat 5600 vehicle will help, and the city set aside $50,000 in its 2019 budget for purchase of a public works vehicle.  Pateros is part of the state bid process so can forego the process of requesting three separate equipment vendor quotes. After a healthy municipal bid discount of $19,555 is deducted from the Bobcat’s list price of $66,298 through Rowe’s Tractor in Wenatchee, the city will pay $50,575.93, including taxes for the new machine.
In other council business members approved a resolution to authorize water reservoir contractor Tapani, Inc. to repair a cemetery irrigation water line at a cost of $2,200.
The council also approved a resolution for additional changes to the landscape design and flagpole lighting for the Well House 4 project for an amount no to exceed $2,374.62. Landscaping is due to be completed this week, but the contractor has requested an additional 26 days to complete the structure owing to work change orders.
While the city is still receiving complaints of manganese in the water. Wilson said the manganese level is very, very low and contamination complaints are declining.