In other business

Loader/backhoe

A divided city council voted 3-2 to purchase a new loader/backhoe from Hopf Equipment for a net cost of $16,630. The purchase price of $81,630 is offset by a trade-in of $65,000.

The present warranty of the machinery had expired April 24, while the new equipment will again be under warranty.

Voting in favor of the purchase were Rich Taylor, Phyllis Parker and Joe Mattox. Those opposed were Rick Norris and Susan Brewer.

“I know the money’s there, but we don’t have to buy something new all the time,” Brewer said.

Norris asked why city employees didn’t do some maintenance on the equipment rather than have the city pay for repair bills.

Fire Station addition

The council unanimously accepted the low bid of $31,255 from Graber Post to build an addition to the city’s southside fire station. Fire Chief Terry Pielmeier said the addition would provide cover for some fire protection vehicles presently left out in the elements.

Pielmeier said he believed Graber Post “cut us a discount” on its bid “because we spent a lot of time out there a couple years ago saving that business” during a major fire.