Pekin has purchased a 27-year-old snow plow for use on the runway and taxiways at the Pekin Municipal Airport, saving more than a half million dollars in the process.
The plow also will relieve the street department from airport duties following a snowstorm, giving it more time to spend clearing roads.
The cost of the 1999 International Paystar Snow Plow, formerly used at Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington, was nearly $20,200. A new version of the plow, which is made specifically for airports, runs between $550,000 and $600,000.
Despite the plow's age, it has only about 20,000 miles on it and is in good working condition, said public works director Simon Grimm.
It's also free from major rust because it's never been driven on roadways and salt isn't used at airports for snow removal, Grimm said.
"The plow was inspected by city staff including mechanics, and no major issues were identified," Grimm said. "The engine, chassis and plow attachment are in good working order."
The 20-inch blade on the plow will cut snow removal time in half at the airport, Grimm said, because it's larger than the street department plows' blade.
Also, the polymer cutting edge on the 20-inch blade can run directly on the runway or taxiway surface, increasing the amount of snow removed on each pass.
Street department plows that have been clearing snow at the airport normally have a 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch gap under the blade to prevent it from running into manholes or potholes.
The airport normally is closed to airplane traffic for two or three days following a snowstorm.
Airport or public property department personnel can operate the purchased plow, freeing street department employees from that task.
"The airport was the third tier of priorities for the street department after a snow event," Grimm said. "Primary and secondary routes were addressed first. Snow removal operations on the roads were often still going on when plows were sent to the airport."
Grimm said the city spent nearly $22,800 for contracted airport snow removal the past five years, with about $10,000 spent in 2021. Only about $6,000 was spent last year.
"So, in theory, we'll get a return on investment for the plow purchase in roughly four or five years," Grimm said.
The Pekin City Council on Monday approved purchase, done through Truck Centers of Morton, on a 6-0 vote. Jake Fletcher was absent.
New fire department pickup
Other actions taken by the council:
- Approved spending no more than $70,000 to purchase a 2027 Ford F350 pickup command vehicle for the Pekin Fire Department from Bob Ridings Fleet Sales in Taylorville, which submitted the lowest quote. The vehicle will replace a 2021 battalion chief's vehicle that has been used for primary emergency response for five years. That vehicle will transition to a non-emergency auxiliary vehicle, primarily assigned to the logistics officer. A 2002 Ford Expedition will be retired from service. The cost of the new vehicle includes markings, emergency lighting and technology materials and installation. Rick Hilst voted against the purchase over concerns about the city budget.
- Approved adding nearly $150,000 to the construction and maintenance agreement between the city and Tazewell & Peoria Railroad to cover the railroad's cost for monitoring and engineering operations of the sections that run along the path of the [combined sewer overflow [CSO] project.
- Proclaimed this Sunday "Pekin First United Methodist Church Bicentennial Day." The church at 1315 Court Street will have a celebration service at 10 a.m. with Bishop David Bard and former pastors as guests, followed by a community meal.
Court traffic cones gone soon?
Pekin Mayor Mary Burress said road striping and the removal of traffic cones along the Court Street rehabilitation project could begin as early as next Monday.
"I've been told we needed to hold tight until Christmas, then Thanksgiving and now this, which is great news," she said.
