County Approves Purchase of New Street Sweeper for 2024

Date: August 29, 2023

The County has approved the purchase of a new street sweeper, accepting a $461,597 tender from FST Canada – Joe Johnson Equipment to replace a unit lost in a collision last year.

The County’s previous 2017 street sweeper was written off following an accident in summer 2022. While insurance covered $196,789 of the loss, an additional $272,711 was required to secure a replacement vehicle.

The street sweeper plays a key role in maintaining roadways across several communities, including Picton, Bloomfield, Wellington, Hillier, Rosehall, Consecon, Cherry Valley, Milford, Northport, Demorestville, Redersville, Rossmore, and Ameliasburgh. It is primarily used during the spring and fall to remove sand, leaves, and debris from roads and curbs.

County staff note that regular sweeping helps keep gutters functioning properly during heavy rain, while also reducing the amount of sediment entering catch basins.

During fall 2022 and spring 2023, sweeping operations were maintained through a contracted service. However, staff indicated that outsourcing is not a sustainable long-term option for the municipality.

The new street sweeper is expected to be delivered in the first quarter of 2024, restoring full in-house sweeping operations.