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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION — JULY 28, 2025 15 Councilmember Monson asked what the levy decrease would be if we take the loader out of the budget. Finance Director Yang said we are looking okay through 2029 for Fund Balance. Councilmember Monson said this won't help with the levy. She remembers last year there was discussion of removing some items but it didn't change the levy. The equipment total for this year is $751,000. Removing the loader would only reduce that amount by not even half. Councilmember Holden said Truck #431, the 2009 Sterling is in the budget for 2026 for $144,000 and 2027 for $139,000. She asked if that was right. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said that is the one that has been approved and has been ordered. Councilmember Holden asked what the $139,000 was. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said that's the cost of the full build -out for the tanker. We expect to see the invoice for that in 2027. Councilmember Monson asked if we talked about the Ford Escape. Councilmember Holden asked who uses the Ford Escape. City Administrator Jagoe said the two Ford Escapes are used by the Building Department. Mayor Grant asked what the mileage was. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen said they are used daily when we are fully staffed. They are necessary vehicles. City Administrator Jagoe said Parks and Rec also use them. Public Works Director/City Engineer Swearingen doesn't think the mileage is very high. Councilmember Monson said we have established the vehicles are needed. She wondered if we should be looking at a hybrid instead of a Ford Escape. That would reduce the cost of gas. She thinks $41,000 seems high for a work vehicle. Mayor Grant agreed. At 69,000 miles we've had $40 worth of preventative maintenance and $150 worth of repairs. Repair can mean many things. Councilmember Holden said we bought that because someone convinced us we needed an SUV because they can go through dirt and mud. She doesn't believe that's necessary. Councilmember Monson agrees. She asked if Staff can come back with an alternative to the Ford Escape. She said 69,000 is low mileage and maintenance and repairs is not excessive. She thinks we should either push it out or ask for an alternative that makes better financial sense.