Board of Aldermen 4-28-2020 Page 14
R-20-025
Endorsers: Mayor Jim Donchess
Alderman-at-Large Michael B. O’Brien, Sr.
Alderman Jan Schmidt
Alderman Richard A. Dowd
Alderwoman Linda Harriott-Gathright
RELATIVE TO THE APPROVAL OF FUNDING FOR THE REBUILD OF THE SOLID WASTE CAT
COMPACTOR FROM THE CAPITAL EQUIPMENT RESERVE FUND (“CERF”) DURING FY2020 IN
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($500,000)
Given its second reading;
MOTION BY ALDERMAN JETTE FOR FINAL PASSAGE OF R-20-025 BY ROLL CALL
ON THE QUESTION
Alderman Jette
I’d like to be heard on that. So in spite of the title this has nothing to do with compacting cats at the landfill.
As the Mayor explained, the compactor is a front-end loader type tractor with large solid steel wheels which
rides over the newly deposited trash at the landfill to compress or compact it. This machine was made by
the Caterpillar Company and that’s why they call it the “cat”. It's an old 1999 machine which was being
used as a back up when the primary compactor was down for maintenance or repairs. It had electrical
problems and the engine seized and it was taken out of service in 2018. Solid Waste has been using a
bulldozer as a backup, but a bulldozer doesn’t have the required weight of a trash compactor and it just
doesn’t work properly.
As the Mayor explained, a new machine would cost $1 million dollars to replace this one. But Milton
Caterpillar Company is offering to refurbish this one for $500,000.00 and they take it down to the frame,
they sand blast it, they repaint it and rebuild it to a like-new status which will have a four-year warranty. A
new machine only has a three-year warranty and they expect that the lifespan of this will be another 10 to
15 years. This machine, this 1999 machine gave us 20 years of service and with this refurbishment it will
give us another 10 to 15 years. So the Board of Public Works recommends that this is the most cost-
effective way of replacing that old machine. It has been vetted and approved by the Finance Committee,
the Budget Review Committee and | ask for your support in adopting this Resolution this evening.
President Wilshire
Thank you. Further discussion on the motion for final passage of Resolution 20-025? Anyone else? Ok
would the Clerk please call the roll?
A viva voce roll call was taken which resulted as follows:
Yea: Alderman O’Brien, Alderman Klee, Alderwoman Kelly, Alderman Dowd,
Alderman Caron, Alderman Clemons, Alderman Lopez, Alderman Tencza,
Alderwoman Lu, Alderman Jette, Alderman Schmidt, Alderman Laws,
Alderman Skip Cleaver, Alderman Harriot-Gathright, Alderman Wilshire 15
Nay: 0
MOTION CARRIED
Resolution R-20-025 declared duly adopted.
