SIKESTON — For several years, the City of Sikeston has been without a leaf vacuum truck, leaving many residents looking for options for disposing their leaves. The City Council has solved that problem by approving the purchase of a new leaf truck.
During the Feb. 28 meeting of the Sikeston City Council, officials approved the purchase of a new leaf vacuum truck at a cost of $197,953.65. The money comes from American Rescue Act Funds awarded to the City.
“This is a demo truck,” said Brian Dial, Sikeston street superintendent. “It’s the one we demoed here about six weeks ago before the winter weather showed up.”
Typically they demo the truck 10 times before they sell it, however, the truck the City is purchasing has only been demoed four times.
“It has approximately 6,000 miles on it and 60 hours,” Dial said. “It’s readily available for us.”
Ordering a brand new truck would have cost over $225,000 and could have taken a year to get it.
Dial added the warranty is for a year and they are adding an additional six months.
He added they will utilize it once they get it in an effort to get the City ready for spring rains.
“This truck can also suck out storm drains and hopefully we can get around town before mowing season really gets going to get some of our storm drains cleared out,” Dial said.
The previous leaf truck, which broke down several years ago and was surplussed by the City, took a six-man crew to use. The new truck takes only one person.
“Even though we haven’t a leaf truck (in some time), still people think the leaf truck is going to come by and get their leaves,” said Sikeston mayor Greg Turnbow. “People still rake their leaves to the curb.”
Councilman Ryan Merideth said the leaf vacuum truck has been a highly sought after item.
“I’ve heard all about how we need one since we no longer have one — and I agree,” Merideth said, also asking if the new truck had safety measures to keep it from picking up items that could cause the truck to break down.
The past leaf vacuum truck would sometimes pick up items not meant to be vacuumed that would damage the truck and force the need for repairs.
Dial said the tube on the new truck isn’t as big as what was on the previous devices used to pick up leaves and worked like a vacuum cleaner and it might be easier to detect something that wasn’t supposed to be picked up.
Dial added once they get the leaf truck in they will develop a plan in the fall for picking up the leaves.