Village Trustees tabled discussion on purchasing a new mower for the Mahomet Parks and Recreation Department Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Mahomet Parks and Recreation Department Dan Waldinger submitted bids for the mower purchase to the Village Board. Waldinger received bids from local vendors, but he also received a $8,892.72 bed on a Toro Z Master with electronic fuel injection (EFI), rear discharge and a five-year or 1,200 hour warranty.
The EFI engine provides 25 to 30 percent better fuel economy than the non-EFI engines and lower emissions. Waldinger said MPRD spends approximately $2,000 to $3,000 on fuel each year.
With an insurance claim under their belt, Waldinger said the rear discharge mower is favorable because summer help, including teenagers, run the mowers.
Village staff directed Waldinger to revisit local vendors over the last week to collect additional quotes from Mid Valley Power Equipment and Mahomet Small Engine. Mid Valley submitted two bids on the Hustler model, and Mahomet Small Engine submitted a bid on a Grasshopper and Gravely model.
Waldinger said the Grasshopper model, which also has an EFI engine, was his second choice. The mower, priced at $10,012.50, is nearly $1,100 above the Toro model. As Village officials face a potential budget cut from the State level, Village staff and Trustees recognized the need to cut back on every dollar.
Trustees Andy Harpst said this decision puts the Village “between a rock and a hard place.” He continued to say Mahomet residents want the Village to support local businesses, but at the same time they want the Village to be fiscally responsible.
Trustees Vicki Cook said Trustees just approved other big ticket items, such as $75,439 in renovations to the Village Public Works building.
Cook suggested that the board table the discussion until April when additional bids for the mower could be reviewed at greater length. The warranty on the Grasshopper mower was not stated in the bid, so Trustees wanted to review that information before making a purchasing decision.
Waldinger said MPRD runs the mower approximately 300 hours per year. With the Torro’s five-year, 1,200 hour warranty, the Village would be able to service the mower for four years.
Village Administrator Patrick Brown asked the Trustees if they wanted Village staff to draft a purchasing requirement for the Village. Acting Mayor Sean Widener said the Village has always preferred local purchases, but buying locally should not be a requirement. He noted not everything the Village needs is available within Village limits.
