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PLAINS TWP. – Township commissioners discussed the possible purchase of a new recycling truck during Thursday night’s regular meeting.

A motion was on the evening’s agenda to authorize the board to purchase a Peterbilt natural gas-powered packer with rear load yard waste collection body. The total cost for the truck would have been $180,660 with $149,132 coming from state grant funding.

The township would have had to pay for the remaining $31,528 in addition to the cost for installing a natural gas line and fueling station.

Township officials did not have any information as to what the fuel line and filling station would cost.

Board Chairman Ron Filippini noted that the initial grant application was for a hybrid vehicle as opposed to the natural gas-powered Peterbilt truck. According to Filippini, the error resulted in a loss of approximately $15,000 in grant money.

Commissioner Brigid O’Connor stated that, while she appreciated the grant money, she did not think that the purchase of the vehicle was prudent at this time.

In her opinion, there were simply too many unknowns. O’Connor noted that no other municipality within the state was currently using a natural gas-powered recycling truck.

She also expressed her concerns over the unknown cost of the fuel line and filling station.

She said that she could not support the motion in its current form and pointed out that the township had until the end of 2011 to finalize a decision on how the grant money should be spent.

Commissioner Jerry Yozwiak, however, spoke out in favor of the purchase. He stated his belief that the purchase would be an investment in the future of the township.

Plains Township has four recycling packers. Yozwiak described two as being in satisfactory working condition, one in “fair” condition and a fourth that will not likely be usable any longer.

He feels that there will be long-term savings in fuel costs as natural gas is much cheaper than the diesel fuel that currently powers the other trucks.

He also pointed out that natural gas is a much cleaner domestic fuel source in comparison to diesel.

Commissioner Steve Sax said that he initially supported the purchase but noted his preference to perform further research into associated costs before committing to anything.

WHAT’S NEXT

Board of commissioners meeting on March 10 at 7 p.m.