Council to consider fire truck, cart purchases

Agreement for 20th St. S. grant also on Tuesday agenda

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BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council will consider purchasing new automated yard waste carts to upgrade the collection program during its meeting set for 6 p.m. Tuesday at the City & County Government Center.

The council will also consider signing a memorandum of understanding regarding the 20th Street South BUILD project and buying a new fire engine.

The Human Rights Commission will present the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day awards, and the council will hear a department presentation on the Brookings Municipal Liquor Store.

Yard waste carts

Solid Waste staff recommends the purchase of 3,965 yard waste carts from Sanitation Products, Inc. for $235,931.58. 

“The attainment of the carts will allow the implementation of the new automated yard waste collection program,” according to an agenda attachment available on the city’s website under Meeting Items. 

“The current yard waste collection program consists of selling paper yard waste bags to Brookings residents through various avenues. The Collection Department currently picks up over 67,000 bags annually. Additionally, a drop off location is provided for residents at the landfill, the community gardens, and a new site yet to be determined,” according to the attachment.

20th Street South 

The council will consider signing a memorandum of understanding between the city and the South Dakota Department of Transportation for the 20th Street South BUILD project.

“The City of Brookings has been awarded a federal ‘Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD)’ Grant to construct 20th Street South between 22nd Avenue South and 34th Avenue South along with a new interchange at Interstate 29 and 20th Street South. The project has also been added into the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program,” according to an agenda attachment.

“The project has specific deadlines required by the grant. The BUILD Grant funds must be obligated by Sept. 15, 2021, and expended by Sept. 30, 2026. The anticipated bid date is September 2021 and the anticipated construction schedule will occur in 2022,” according to the attachment. 

“The City requested the State to function as the administrator for the project along with the Federal Highway Administration. The SDDOT staff has experience in federal projects including environmental review, right of way, and interchange and off-ramp design. The SDDOT financial system is also approved to use the FMIS system, which would expedite the approval of the Advance Construction for the Grant,” according to the attachment. 

The MOU outlines the state and city responsibilities for the project.

Fire engine

The council will consider purchasing a 2020 fire engine through Sourcewell. 

“The replacement of an aging fire apparatus is critical. Staff recommends purchasing a 2020 fire engine from Toyne, Inc., Breda, Iowa/Allegiant Emergency Services, Sioux Falls, for the amount of $540,243 …. This is the first year of a multi-year replacement of major equipment,” according to an agenda attachment.  

“The vehicle will be financed from a Landfill Internal Fund.” 

The loan terms are in line with current market investment instruments returns allowed for municipalities, including annual interest rate of 1.55%; covers six years; and totals $540,243. The cash outflow resulting from the proposed financing is within the estimated budgeted amount in the city’s 2020 CIP budget, according to the attachment. 

“A fire engine replacement should occur every 18 years to effectively reduce maintenance costs and breakdowns. The Brookings Fire Department budgeted to replace a 2001 fire engine in the 2020 capital improvement plan. The fire engine is a very sophisticated piece of equipment and required the utilization of a specialized governmental approved service called Sourcewell. Within the next 10 years, five engine trucks, one rescue truck, and one platform truck will need to be replaced,” according to the attachment. 

“The 2020 approved capital improvement plan (CIP) contains this budgeted item for $150,000. This is the first payment of a six-year term with internal financing from the Solid Waste Fund,” according to the attachment.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.