By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
A new front-end loader will be a welcome – and much-needed – addition to Yukon Public Works’ arsenal.
The Yukon City Council, at its Nov. 7th meeting, approved purchasing a 2023 John Deere 524 P-Tier Wheel Loader from C.L. Boyd Co.
Yukon Public Works Director Arnold Adams recommended the $196,875.02 purchase, made off a state contract.
Yukon’s Street Department crews use this piece of equipment almost daily, according to Adams.
“Particularly with snow and ice coming, we use it a lot through the wintertime,” he explained.
The City of Yukon’s current front-end loader – a 2005 John Deere 624JXT – and has logged almost 7,500 hours.
“It’s been on its ‘last leg’ for a few years,” Adams shared. “We are really excited (to get a new one), and it came in even a little under budget.”
Yukon will receive $47,500 as a trade-in allowance for its 18-year-old front-end loader.
“We were very shocked to receive that (amount),” Adams told council members. “We thought they may just want to come haul it off. It’s seen some better days, I promise you.”
With the trade-in, total cost to the City of Yukon is $149,375.02.
ODDS ‘N ENDS
Among other business items approved at the Nov. 8th city council meeting were:
- A contract with the University of Oklahoma’s Institute for Quality Communities to develop a beautification/tree canopy plan for Garth Brooks Boulevard. Yukon will provide a $2,500 local partner project match.
- A letter of intent and possible application to the Oklahoma Opioid Abatement Board for a grant that would fund opioid abatement and prevention.
- Appointment of Adam Shriver as the at-large member of the Yukon Traffic Commission.
- Authorizing TEIM Design to advertise for bids for a sanitary sewer line project from the Frisco Ridge Addition-Phase 2 north to Interstate 40. Some 1,900 linear feet of 12-inch sewer line will be installed.
- A fiscal year 2024 budget amendment increasing appropriations by $6,500. This raises the level of expenditures to match a grant award for food and supplies at the Dale Robertson Center.
- A resolution calling an election for the Ward 3 and Ward 4 city council seats. Filing period will be Dec. 4-6. Four-year terms will end in May 2028.
During council discussion, Mayor Shelli Selby acknowledged Boy Scout Troop 395. She had spoken to the scouts the previous night about municipal government.
“Their biggest concern was that of litter,” Selby related. “They would like us to ban litter and fine people for throwing litter. I thought that was very conscientious.
“They are thinking about adopting a street and taking that project on to pick up litter. If we could all be more conscious about the litter we’re throwing out, this will make Boy Scout Troop 395 very happy.”
