Ogdensburg OKs $89K for new backhoe

OGDENSBURG — The Ogdensburg Borough Council approved spending $89,000 to buy a new backhoe on Monday night.

They council agreed $5,000 will come from the Capital Improvement Fund, and $84,000 will be authorized debt through a bond ordinance.

The public hearing and adoption is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 23.

The council also discussed what it should do with the old backhoe and details about the new one.

Councilman David Astor said that the head of Department of Public Works, Chris Ross, recommended investing a “nominal fee” to get the old backhoe fixed.

Astor said the Borough was looking for the same-style machine as the old backhoe, and one that would last a long time. It will be used for roads and in the event of of water main breaks.

Councilman Robert McGuire wanted to make sure the state contract for the new backhoe was the lowest price because it “binds us to a bond.” In addition, he said he did not want to have the wrong style machine.

Councilman George Hutnick said the salt eats away on the backhoe, and then it falls into the engine, so the borough cannot purchase a rear loader.

Astor said the borough could shop around.

“Keep the old, and use it as salt loader," Hutnick said. "(The borough should) not trash the new one.”

Astor concluded the borough could “junk, sell, or fix (the old backhoe)."

Also, the Council could continue to discuss the best backhoe solutions because the second reading of the ordinance will not be until the end of the month.