The Knox City Council approved the purchase of a John Deere Gator when they met last Tuesday.
Mayor Dennis Estok explained that the City has been considering purchasing a Gator to assist the individual who mows the lots around town. He currently pushes his mower from place to place because he doesn’t have anything to cart it around in. Estok added that it could also be utilized to supervise events down at the park.
Additionally, the Parks Department has been looking into options for a Gator with four seats to replace the one they have which only has two. Estok said that often times, if there are more than two people who need to utilize the vehicle, one person has to ride in the back and that causes some safety concerns.
Councilman Don Kring apparently located a John Deer Gator with four seats, an electric dump and a plow attachment for sale for $13,500. Estok added that it only has 1300 hours on it and with the all the attachments, it is valued at $26,000 to $30,000 so they’d be getting a good deal on the purchase.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeff Houston noted that they pull funds for this from the building maintenance account in the CEDIT fund. He informed the council that fund is in good shape and indicated that the expenditure wouldn’t have a negative impact on it.
Estok noted that this new vehicle will be given to the Parks Department and the two-seated Gator will now be utilized for the City’s purposes.
Park Board member John Fletcher was in attendance and asked if the vehicle was going to cost the Parks Department anything. The mayor informed him that it was being provided at no cost to them.
