MILLPORT, Ala. — Millport’s backhoe is on its last leg. How and when to replace it will remain an ongoing discussion.
Millport Assistant Water Superintendent Kyle Shaw told the Millport Town Council on Monday “it’s only going to get worse before it gets better” after detailing incidents in which the backhoe has locked up while cleaning the city’s lagoon and, over the weekend, at a resident’s home, where employees from the street department were repairing a water line.
“We borrowed (Lamar) County’s backhoe to finish fixing the leak,” Shaw said during his monthly report. “We went back today to try and crank it, but it sounded like it’s spun a main bearing. It’ll turn over, but it won’t crank.”
Mayor Icie Wriley acknowledged the nagging problems of the backhoe and said state surplus sales could yield a reasonable price for used equipment. Councilman Stanley Allred said prices may run over $100,000.
“Parts for the current one are expensive,” Shaw said. “We’ve repaired and worked on it and done a lot of stuff to avoid sending it off.”
The board didn’t take any action on the matter.
In other news, the council:
■ Received an update of the city’s fire hydrants from they city’s streets director Robby McAdams, who said his crews have repaired 15 hydrants, minus the units repaired in May. Three of the 90 within the city limits are awaiting repairs ahead of the city’s fire safety inspections this summer.
■ Library director Linda Ferguson reported the library purchased two new computers, and both are operational. The recent additions have helped add two other computers to be added to the children’s area.
■ Ferguson reported dates for the summer reading program, which begins July 8. Grades 1-3 will meet on Tuesdays; grades 4-6 will meet on Wednesdays; and Thursday’s “Tots’ Hour” will continue. All reading programs are from 10 a.m. until noon.
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