Avon Town Council approves $5,000 trail grant, 1,800-ton salt order, park equipment purchase and surplus vehicle resolution

The Avon Town Council approved a package of routine items that included a $5,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation for the town’s trail-and-safety program, a commitment to purchase 1,800 tons of road salt, authorization to buy park equipment from Bobcat of Indy and a resolution declaring a 2016 police truck surplus.

Shelby Pride, parks and recreation director, said Avon applied for and received a $5,000 Duke Energy grant to support the town’s trail-and-safety program and that staff already began installing trail marker signs and planned pavement striping once weather permits. "We are very excited to have received $5,000 for this grant for our trail and safety," Pride said.

Public Works staff requested approval to join the state bid for road salt and to order 1,800 tons for the coming season because usage increased and market prices rose. Staff estimated the purchase at roughly $171,000 and said the order must be placed immediately to secure supply.

Pride also requested council approval to trade two older pieces of parks equipment (listed in the memo as a 2021 "Canium" four-wheeler with 346 hours and a 2016 "K Cabota" tractor) and purchase a T66 Bobcat track loader and a Bobcat UTV. The quoted maximum cost for the two new vehicles was $96,600, with trade-in value listed as $37,500 and an expected payment-on-delivery amount of $59,100. Pride said the purchase will be funded from the recreation and food-and-beverage funds and that the new equipment will fit in the maintenance barn.

A Deputy Chief of Enforcement asked the council to declare a 2016 Dodge Ram with 142,000 miles surplus because it needs a new engine; the resolution (2026-11) authorized sending the vehicle to auction.

All of the listed motions were moved, seconded and approved by roll call. The recorded affirmative votes in roll call were Jason Pucket, Greg Zusen, Robert Pope and Don Lden on the recorded items; the meeting transcript records four affirmative roll-call responses for each vote. Specific movers and seconders were not clearly identified in the transcript text.

Next steps: Staff will place the salt order, proceed with equipment trade-ins and purchases on delivery authorization, and send the surplus vehicle to auction under Resolution 2026-11.