Denison debates renting vs. buying pavement equipment after mastic tests

Public Works Director Rod told the Denison City Council the department has been testing mastic patching (using a rented Durapatcher) and evaluating whether to rent again or trade in the current equipment for a mastic machine that could also be fitted for crack sealing.

Rod said the city and county previously split a rental cost (about $4,000 for a two-week rental), and described manpower requirements—usually four or five people—to operate the unit. He estimated a new mastic-capable machine could be in the $80,000 range, plus roughly $3,000–$5,000 to add an attachment to allow crack sealing. Rod said the mastic held up in testing but recommended further observation through a hot-weather season before committing to purchase.

Council members pressed for better documentation of day-to-day work in the department’s Dropbox reports and asked staff to return with a calculation comparing continuing to rent, renting again for a longer trial, or purchasing and retrofitting a machine (including potential trade-in of the Durapatcher). One councilmember suggested the county might share rental costs again.

No purchase was approved. Council directed staff to prepare cost comparisons, material inventories, and a plan for reporting daily work so the council can judge the return on any equipment purchase.