YOU MAKE THE CALL!!!!!!

The question is, “Are members of the Town Council making the best business decisions when spending our tax dollars”.  So let’s take a look at the purchase of the 2012 Bandit 990 Chipper from Hammond Tractor Company for $31,999.00.

 In order to know if this is a good purchase or not; we need to review the history of the town’s usage of a chipper.  So I asked the town in a Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) and the following is what I was provided.

 Fiscal Year                           Money Spent

2012-2013                           Purchase Order 1634 - $7,200.00

2013-2014                           "There were no Purchase Orders 

                                               indicating a chipper had been rented.    

                                               Before we started renting a chipper on a

                                               regular basis the crew would cut the

                                               brush, load it on a truck and bring it to

                                               the Transfer Station and dump it on the

                                               ground.  Then the Transfer Station staff

                                               would load it into a big trailer and haul it

                                               off for disposal.  This was a tremendous

                                               waste of resources.”

2014-2015                 “There were no Purchase Orders indicating a chipper had been rented.  Before we started renting a chipper on a regular basis the crew would cut the brush, load it on a truck and bring it to the Transfer Station and dump it on the ground.  Then the Transfer Station staff would load it into a big trailer and haul it off for disposal.  This was a tremendous waste of resources.”

2015-2016                  Purchase Order 12163 - $1,324.58

                                      Purchase Order 13630 - $191.25

                                      Purchase Order 13691 - $573.75

                                      Purchase Order 13796 – $212.50

                                                                   TOTAL:  $2,302.08

 Now that we have the history for the past 4 years, it is time to

determine if this purchase was for convenience or a necessity.  In

4 years, the cost totaled was$9,502.08.  This is an average of

$2,375.52 per year.  Does this justify purchasing a chipper for

$31,999.00?  Remember for two year the town did not rent a

chipper.

This Town Council should be looking for ways to reduce the cost

of operating this town instead of reckless spending.  I personally

do not feel this was a justifiable purchase.  If you agree with me,

call your Councilors and asked them to stop wasting our tax

dollars.

 The Public Works Director is going out for bids on 5 more

purchases/projects.  At the next council meeting, the Town

Council will vote on these items.  What are your feelings?

It appears to me that the Council does not understand they have

reduce spending and find ways to increase revenue in order to

reduce taxes.  Their primary mission should be to operate this

 town safely and to reduce our taxes.  They do not appear to be

trying to reduce our taxes.

 Was this a good business decision or fraud waste and abuse? 

 Larry Fillmore