City department heads: Must replace equipment

Local Historic City News reporters have learned that when the City of St. Augustine holds it regular commission meeting Monday night, two department heads will tell commissioners that “time is running out” to replace large equipment; previously deferred because of budget-cuts.

Fire Chief Mike Arnold says that he needs to replace a 30 year-old aerial fire truck – in an age where most departments make replacements every 15 years, or less.

Public Works Director Martha Graham says increasing downtime and maintenance on the city’s street sweeper makes replacement of the seven-year-old sweeper unit a move “in the best interests of the city.”

Chief Arnold expects a new aerial unit to cost $525,000, while Graham says a more efficient vacuum street sweeper will cost $179,000. Both, however, are not asking commissioners for those amounts.

Arnold says his department failed to get a grant last year for 95 percent of the cost of a new aerial truck. “If the commission can authorize more than the five percent required match, maybe it will be enough to show that we’re serious about our need for the new unit,” he says.

The sweeper was budgeted for replacement two years ago at $110,000, and those funds have been carried forward on the books in cost-cutting efforts. Graham will seek authorization to transfer $70,000 from Solid Waste Department reserves to make up the balance.