Carlisle Board Approves New Truck Purchase For 331K

CARLISLE — After learning from Highway Superintendent Mike Broadwell that a new dump truck could be ready for delivery in the fall, the Carlisle Town Board acted quickly to take advantage.

At its Wednesday, April 2 meeting, the board voted 4-0 to approve the purchase of the fully-equipped Western Star truck from Tracey Road Equipment in Albany for $331,083. Town Supervisor John Leavitt and Council members Katie Schweigard, Robert Smith and Dave Laraway all voted in favor. Council member Mary Tillapaugh was unable to attend the meeting.

Broadwell said the truck will come equipped with a snow plow and other amenities to allow it to swing into service by next winter to replace one of the town's four dump trucks. He was pleased with the development because like all municipal road superintendents, he has had to put in a lot of hours trying to get new trucks ordered and delivered.

"Three of our dump trucks are 18 years old and the newest one is nine years old, so we have to be proactive," Broadwell said. He added the cost for the new truck can be mostly covered with $300,000 available in an equipment reserve fund and that funds should be available to cover the remainder.

After some discussion, the board also agreed in two separate 4-0 votes to accept sealed bids for two old mowing tractors. The bids are expected to be opened at the board's next meeting May 7. Before the vote to accept sealed bids, there was discussion about possibly trying to auction the tractors off either online or live. Broadwell estimated the value of each at somewhere between $9,800 and $11,000.

"I think the best way is put them out for sealed bids and see what we're offered," Leavitt said.

The board also approved sending Broadwell to the annual highway school in Ithaca June 2-4 at an estimated cost of $600.

It also gave its blessing to a purchase of around $500 for a big-screen television and rolling stand requested by Town Historian Chris Keefer for presentations. It would be kept in the meeting room of the town municipal building on Crommie Road and would be purchased out of Historical Society funds, Leavitt noted.

Schweigard reported that she has spoken to a representative from the Animal Shelter of the Schoharie Valley and that a planned fundraising walk/run will now likely take place in July. The board had previously said it was agreeable to holding the event on the paved walking trail around the municipal building.

It would raise funds for both the shelter and the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School Future Business Leaders of America Club. Schweigard is advisor to that club and also a business teacher at the school.

"Hopefully, we will have a date by next month and we can make flyers and make it a really nice thing," she said.

Code Enforcement Officer Lloyd Stannard mentioned near the end of the meeting that he continues to get calls from Dollar General officials about possibly putting a store in the town. During a recent call, a DG official said there was a spot in mind but the official declined to specify the spot, Stannard added. Stannard and board members said it would be nice to attract a Dollar General, Stewart's or Mirabito to the town.