HomeMy WebLinkAbout1G, Lawn Mower Purchase Opportunity
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Request for Council Action
Prepared By: Greg Hoag, Public Works Director
Council Meeting Date: December 15, 2008
Lawn Mower Purchase Opportunity
Budgeted Amount:
$0
Actual Amount:
$0
Funding Source:
Not Applicable
Supporting Documents:
1. Memo from Greg Hoag dated December 15, 2008
2. Sample picture Jacobsen HR-5111
3. Sample picture Toro Groundsmaster
MEMORANDUM
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DATE:
December 15, 2008
TO:
Mayor and City Council
Ron Moorse, City Administrator
FROM:
Greg Hoag, Public Works Director
SUBJECT:
Lawn Mower Purchase Opportunity
BACKGROUND
On December 8, 2008 the City Council approved the 2009 budget and Capital Improvement Plan
(CIP) which included the replacement of our 1998 Toro Groundsmaster lawn mower with a large
area lawn mower.
The Mounds View School District Maintenance Department currently has two surplus lawn
mowers in their fleet which they would like to donate to The City of Arden Hills. The first
mower is a Jacobsen HR-5111 large area mower capable of cutting a ten foot width. (Picture
attached) This mower is the style of mower we planned to recommend purchasing as our
replacement mower in early 2009. The Mounds View mower currently has 1665 hours which is
estimated to be about half of the normal life of the engine. This mower is in need of some repairs
and maintenance.
Turfwerks located in Eagan Minnesota is the local distributer for Jacobsen equipment.
Turfwerks has provided us with an estimate for repairs to this mower. These repairs were broken
down into three categories: Need to do now, $860.00 parts and labor; Highly recommended,
$3,257.11 parts and labor; and wear part routine maintenance and repair, $1,400.29 parts only for
an estimated total with tax of $6,000.00. These repairs are all repairs that can be expected over
the life of this type of equipment. There are no major issues with the motor or cutting decks.
Turfwerks estimates this mower, if all of the repairs were completed, could sell for
approximately $18,000.00. A brand new mower of this type is listed at $44,640.00 on the State
of Minnesota purchasing contract for 2009.
It is anticipated that if we were to acquire this mower and continue with regular routine
maintenance and repairs, we could expect to get five to seven years of service from this mower.
We would expect to get fifteen years of service from a brand new mower.
Page 2
The second mower that they are offering to donate is a 1998 Toro Groundsmaster (sample
picture attached) with a six foot cutting width. This mower currently has 1515 hours on it.
Arden Hills currently owns three Toro Groundsmasters which are used to mow grass in the
summer and for snow removal on rinks and trails in the winter. Our Groundsmasters are a 1998
with 2850 hours, 2001 with 2515, and 2002 with 1925 hours. The engines on these machines
built to be around a 3000 hour engine. By acquiring the extra Groundsmaster one of the mowers
could be used as a "parts" mower for future repairs. Internally staff will use the parts and
attachments from all four mowers to make the best three.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends accepting both of these mowers from the Mounds View School District. At
this time we are not recommending disposing of a Groundsmaster as we use them both in the
summer and in the winter. As staff continues to evaluate equipment options for removing snow
from rinks and trails we will most likely reduce our Groundsmaster fleet to two.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION
Staff is seeking City Council input and direction as to how to proceed.
Groundsmaster@ 300 Series