Getting ready for summer (04/07/06)

City officials are hoping to spray away mosquitoes — and high prices.

Members of the Portland Board of Works voted Thursday to purchase four drums of mosquito spray for the city, before the cost increases any more.

The 55-gallon drums of Anvil 2 + 2 Ultraviolet will be purchased from Clark Mosquito Control of Roselle, Ill., at a total price of $11,110.

Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said this morning, the cost for the spray has increased by about $2 per gallon since last year. Harker said the price increase could be contributed to the rising cost of petroleum, which is an ingredient in the spray, or shipping rate hikes.

Anvil is the same brand of spray the city has used for the past two years. The street department typically uses four drums per year, Harker said.

Spraying is expected to begin in late May or early June, he said.

Also Thursday, the board selected a $47,500 quote from Moser Motor Sales of Berne for a new Ford F-650 for the city’s street department.

The price reflects $1,000 for the trade in of a 1990 Ford F-650. Harker said the current vehicle is used frequently, and the bed needs replaced.

Les Wenning Ford of Fort Recovery also submitted a quote of $46,799, and Wabash Ford of Indianapolis sent a quote of $47,365. Both prices reflect a deduction for trade-in of the current vehicle.

Harker suggested the board select the Moser quote because the transmission and engine are simililar to other vehicles the department currently uses. There were differences in the combination of engines and transmissions from the other two quoters.

The new truck will be used for snow removal and to haul brush.[[In-content Ad]]