COLUMBIANA — Fairfield Township trustees unanimously approved the purchase of a new Kubota L6060 tractor for the road department at Thursday’s meeting.

Road supervisor Mel Miller said he researched a number of tractors with power broom capabilities and obtained quotes.

It came down to the Kubota which was purchased from Phil’s Sale & Service, located in township, for $39,107 and with a second motion, trustees purchased a power broom called a Sweepster for $10,185, also from Phil’s.

Miller said they looked at just about every make and model of tractor.

“I think this best meets our needs as far as transmission, cab and it has a better setup,” he said.

It will replace a 1972 White tractor.

Some tractors with the broom attachment sold for over $50,000, which would have meant bidding it out. Miller said the Kubota was even less expensive than the John Deere through the state cooperative purchasing program.

Trustee Barry Miner noted the dealer was inside the township and pointed out it would work to their advantage if “we have issues with parts or warranty.”

Miller said, “With them in our backyard, this was the right thing to do.”

Trustee Chairman Bob Hum wanted to make sure the Sweepster would be installed without the township “being in a jam later” by having to order a special retrofit kit for something like $1,200.

Miller said Phil’s had never installed a Sweepster but installation was included in the price.

Miner asked Miller what he had in mind for the next tractor purchase since the newest one in the department is now 24 years old.

Miller said a broom mower was being looked at and Miner said with the money allocated, “I’d be looking at two mowers right along with the one we just purchased tonight.”

In other business, trustees also passed a motion to bid out the mowing for 2017 and 2018 for all the township owned property which includes six cemeteries, a park, ball fields, government building and headwater nature trail. All the areas will be bid on an individual basis and bids must be received by 7 p.m. April 6.

The bids will be opened at 7:30 p.m. during the April 6 meeting and anyone interested in details regarding the bidding can contact Miller at the township garage at 3062 Fairfield School Road, or by calling 482-2695.

Trustees also approved a tire drive that will run from noon until 5 p.m. May 4.

Hum said they got more tires last year than the year before and Miller said there were just over 400 tires collected, or four truck loads.

lshields@salemnews.net