ROCHELLE – The Rochelle City Council voted last week to purchase a new compact excavator and a utility tractor to maintain local roads and ditches. The city will pay about $93,000 for a Bobcat excavator to help with underground utility repairs and specialized digging in tight spaces. A second vote approved spending nearly $108,000 for a Kubota tractor to replace a machine from 2010.
Rochelle Public Works Director Tim Isley said the tractor will help crews mow more than 50 miles of roadside ditches and 65 acres of city property.
Councilman Tom McDermott said there are benefits other than reliability to consider.
“ I think it’s always good to point out the fact that when you change from one manufacturer or vendor of equipment to another, there’s always some changes. If you’re used to running a machine in such a way, then now all of a sudden these controls are just a little bit different, so I think it’s actually a safety thing.” he said.