Will County Gazette

The Beecher Village Board of Trustees has agreed to purchase a new tractor for the Parks and Recreation Department, replacing an older model that was in need of repairs.

Trustees noted during the Nov. 14 session, which was streamed on YouTube, that the old tractor had soot buildup from use and idling in the park during work, and the new tractor is a 2022 model with improved systems to allow it to operate more efficiently with less soot buildup.

“So as long as you're operating it within the correct range, it'll burn off the soot while you're still using it,” Trustee Todd Kraus said. “The worst thing for this specific tractor is to run it around the park and idle and putt around the places. It needs to be left in high, full throttle at all times and things like that. That's one of the worst things that was part of the problem with the old one as well.”

Cancelled repaving work freed up $26,0000 in the Parks and Recreation budget to go toward purchasing the tractor.

Trustees also talked about possible protection plans for the new tractor, with trustees noting the old tractor had been in service for six years.

Several options were discussed with the Parks and Recreation Department endorsing a 60-month plan with no deductible that would cost $16,500, covering the tractor for up to 5,000 hours in the time that the plan covers.