Crown Point OKs $600K in new equipment, some special events
Several different types of equipment were presented to the board by Public Works Director Terry Ciciora, including a water service truck for $262,967, of which Ciciora said the department was in dire need.
The Crown Point Board of Public Works and Safety gave a blanket approval Wednesday for more than $600,000 in new equipment.
Several different types of equipment were presented to the board by Public Works Director Terry Ciciora, including a water service truck for $262,967, of which Ciciora said the department was in dire need.
“Our (current truck) is extremely outdated, it doesn’t have any of the safety features I’d like to have on the truck for my guys out in the field when they’re doing their work out there, especially in the middle of the night,” Ciciora said.
The new water service truck will be custom built by LDV Inc., in Wisconsin, and will feature compartments to heat pumps, LED lighting, a light tower that mounts on the top of the truck and other safety features.
“The safety that provides to our working force is much needed,” City Attorney David Nicholls said.
The board also approved two new 1-ton F550 pickup trucks, which will be dedicated to the leak crew to replace older trucks for a total price of $155,825.80, a 333 John Deere track loader to replace older equipment for $63,500 and a manhole rehabilitation kit to rehab manholes instead of getting outside vendors for $25,229.73, among other things.
“There was a huge thought process, I would never come before the board with a frivolous, ‘I want something shiny and new out there,’ ” Ciciora said. “I went through everything and I tried to get us the correct equipment to put us on a nice even playing field.”
Also Wednesday, the board approved a reroute for the yearly Santa Run, Walk and Ride, put on Dec. 19 by Hometown Happenings, where hundreds of Santas in full Santa outfits walk or run down Main Street.
This year, the route will be south from the First United Methodist Church to Taft Middle School in four waves in order to accommodate CDC and Lake County Health Department guidelines, said Hometown Happenings President Tim Fealy.
Fealy also noted Hometown Happenings wrote a proposal for the event to the Lake County Health Department and made adjustments to the event to verify the safety of participants.
“I appreciate you reaching out the Lake County Health Department and making your adjustments, I know that this has always been a very popular run for your organization for obvious reasons,” Mayor David Uran said.
Additionally, Special Events Director Diana Bosse noted there will be a closure of the intersection of 101st Avenue and of Merrillville Road that was scheduled to begin Monday and stretch for three weeks.