Stellarton approves backhoe purchase

Stellarton councillors approved the purchase of a backhoe during an emergency council meeting Tuesday. Town engineer Blaine Murray explained that the transmission failed on one of two backhoes owned by Stellarton’s public works department – a 2011 John Deere model. He said it would cost $20,000 to repair the machine. “My understanding is that the machine was scheduled to be replaced next year,” he said. “It’s also my understanding that the value of the machine is not worth much more than the value that’s quoted to fix it.” Based on preliminary quotes he received from suppliers, Murray estimated that a new backhoe will cost between $160,000 and $175,000, depending on what attachments are included. He said the backhoe is essential for snow removal in the winter as well as for sidewalk construction, catch basin installation, waterline replacement, and fixing waterline breaks during the summer months. Without the piece of equipment, a number of capital projects would have to be put on hold, said Murray. The town will issue a call for tenders for a replacement. Murray said he’s unsure when the new machine could arrive, but he said if a supplier has a backhoe in stock with the specifications required by the town, it could be a quick process. In the meantime, a backhoe will be rented, at a cost of $3,500 to $3,800 per month, “to fulfil our capital projects for the year.”