Ellitzville council postpones vote on street sweeper and dump truck purchase

Ellitzville's town council heard a public-works equipment update and postponed a vote to a May 11 meeting after hearing details on a proposed new street sweeper and a replacement dump truck.

Street Commissioner Kip Hedi said the town plans to replace a nearly 20-year-old street sweeper and is considering either a direct purchase or a trade-in; he also described a 2026 Kenworth single-axle dump truck with a plow and spreader that is available on dealer lots and priced roughly $20,000 less than ordering new.

Clerk-Treasurer Noel Conurs explained that the town could use a master lease agreement to finance equipment under a single umbrella, describing it as effectively a loan to keep equipment financing legal and consolidated.

After discussion, the council postponed the motion on the purchases until its May 11 meeting to allow for further review of options and financing. Hedi said existing equipment may be kept in service a little longer while procurement and possible trade-in values are assessed.

The postponement buys time for the council to review master-lease terms and to compare costs of ordering versus acquiring equipment in stock.