The Municipality of West Nipissing is buying a new snowplow after the 2012 vehicle it has blew its engine.
Staff told council it was unfortunate the vehicle suffered a breakdown so early.
Staff recommended buying a 2020 cab and chassis at a cost of about $182,000 because the existing vehicle is now seven years old and it won’t be long before more things start to breakdown.
There was general agreement among council that if it simply replaced the motor it might be throwing good money after bad.
A new motor would cost $64,500 plus another $12,000 for the warranty.
Council passed a resolution to approve the purchase at Mayor Joanne Savage’s request because this was an unbudgeted expenditure for 2019.
Staff pointed out a resolution wasn’t necessary because the municipality would come up with the money by shifting other money around.
In addition, councillor Yvon Duhaime said the department would have had a surplus this year but now that will be used to buy the new cab and chassis.
The new truck, once it arrives, will stay in Verner.
Meanwhile, the municipality will look at hiring a snowplow operator in River Valley to plow snow out of the River Valley Club d’Age d’Or.
Councillor Duhaime says right now the municipality ends up plowing the site twice.
That’s because first a large truck goes in and then a three-quarter-ton plow removes what the larger vehicle can’t get to.
Duhaime said it makes more sense to let a private contractor do the work once and then bill the municipality.
Councillor Jeremy Seguin supports the idea and has no problem helping out the club.
Seguin says the River Valley Club d’Age d’Or serves as the community centre in River Valley and that’s no different from other West Nipissing communities that have similar facilities that get help from the municipality.
Mayor Joanne Savage weighed in on the debate saying she was going to bring a proposal to council in the New Year where council would look at helping specific groups like the local Legion.
Savage says the municipality should itemize all the plowing services it provides to the various groups so taxpayers can see where some of their money is being spent.
Savage also wants to see snow removal operations in the downtown within a certain amount of time after a snowfall.