By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Safer, handier, and far fewer problems. That’s the latest upgrade for the growing city of Decatur – a remote-controlled mower.
Operations Manager Jeremy Gilbert pitched the idea to the Decatur Board of works and Safety at its latest meeting and got a green light for the expenditure of $59,499.50
What it will be used for, mainly, is mowing on city property along the St. Marys River, the Greenway Trail, detention ponds, and the like.
“We’ve talked for some time about better ways to maintain our river bank, with safety concerns about the steep banks,” Gilbert told the board. He said, too, that every time the tractor currently used gets stuck, a wrecker service has to be paid to free the vehicle.
“This RC mower is exactly what it sounds like – unmanned. You stand on the bank and control it,” Gilbert added.
City officials have already seen the mower in operation, at recent demonstration.
“I think there are a lot of places you could use this,” Mayor Dan Rickord said.
“I personally think it’s the way to fly. I have no doubt it would be a great addition to our city,” board member Craig Coshow added.
The mayor also pointed out that with the Kekionga project to upgrade the Kekionga Park ball diamond and the establishment of a dog park not far from the river bank, “this (the RC mower) will be used even more.”
