Breitung will buy a work truck in 2023 | News, Sports, Vacancies

QUEENSEC — Breitung Township plans to spend up to $77,000 on a new municipal truck — $63,000 for the truck and up to $14,000 for the plow.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Jay Davis said a 1999 Ford F250 brush truck needed more than $4,100 in repairs last summer. The purchase of the new truck was initially planned for 2026, and negotiations were already underway to include it in the 2025 budget.

However, Davis told the township board Monday that the opportunity had arisen.

Town & Country Sales has a new 2023 Ford F350 work truck scheduled to be auctioned and sold to the town at a discount. The truck already has toolboxes that the public works department will need. Municipal work lights and plow can be added.

Davis said he compared prices from MiDEAL, the state’s purchasing program that allows municipalities to purchase items at a discount. The price of the truck at Town & Country Sales was about $4,300 more than at MiDEAL. However, it may take more than a year to take possession of a vehicle purchased through MiDEAL.

Davis also noted that the truck from Town & Country Sales has a gas engine. He assured the board that diesel was not needed because the truck would not be towing heavy equipment.

The council approved the purchase of the truck.

In other matters the board:

— Updated city policy regarding oath of office. All township employees, board members, commission members and hearing officers will now be required to take an oath of office. Town Clerk Kari Taff learned at a recent Michigan Township Association workshop that the oath is required for many positions and is recommended for all positions because it increases trust and creates a sense of responsibility for the position.

— Submitted his resignation from Elections Manager/Deputy Clerk Jamie Tinti. Tinti’s resignation was submitted on October 23 and was scheduled to take effect on November 8.

Trustee Ben Peterson wanted to know if anyone had discussed or made a counteroffer to Tinti. Superintendent Steve Malka said he talked to her and didn’t think she was open to any offers because of the schedule she was offered. They could ask again, he added.

Mulka noted that Tinti is an excellent employee and retaining her would be the easiest way to ensure continuity of work. He agreed to talk to her further.

— Approved salary for custodian Dave Pataconi, who works part-time but wants to go full-time. Pataconi currently works 25 hours a week, and when he finishes his duties as custodian, he assists the public works department. Currently, Pataconi will receive a custodian’s salary when performing this work, and will be paid at the DPW-1 rate when performing public works, a difference of $4 per hour. The rate will be revised on January 1, when Pataconi goes full-time.

— Approved a six-month contract with Photos by Emily for $2,150. As part of updating the township’s website and promoting the community, the board agreed with a web developer to provide a library of high-resolution photographs of people and places around the township.

Jim Paul can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 229 or [email protected].