With supply chain problems leading extended lead times needed on bigticket items, the Hastings City Council gave approval at its meeting Oct. 3 for orders on items in the 2023 budget to be placed …
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With supply chain problems leading extended lead times needed on bigticket items, the Hastings City Council gave approval at its meeting Oct. 3 for orders on items in the 2023 budget to be placed now, in hopes that delivery will come on time next year.
All the items were included in the budget reviewed by the council last month.
‘When we looked at the preliminary budget, we recognized there were a variety of supply chain deadlines that in order for us to get some equipment, and vehicles in particular, we would need to order them early. There are significant items that we ordered a year ago that we’re still waiting on. Some of them may be certainly things that we receive, but some of it is even questionable if we’ll get it in 2022,” said City Administrator Dan Wietecha. “The economy’s still difficult and still has long lead times and also very short windows to order some items. We’ve been told that even if you get your name in that small, threeday window and onto the list, it’s not a guarantee of getting that truck or whatever that item is.”
He noted that playground equipment for Lake Isabel Park was ordered in November 2021, and delivery isn’t expected until the coming winter. Also, a hybrid police squad car was ordered in October 2021 and has yet to be delivered. The city also is awaiting vehicles for its public works department from 2021.
Wietecha said that the city has money on hand for these purchases, so while they’re in the budget for 2023, if the city would have to pay for them ahead of time, it has the money to, though he expects payment will be made when items are delivered.
“It’s not relying on the tax levy that you’re voting on in December. It’s not relying on receiving Local Government Aid next July,” he said. “If there were concerns about procedurally us doing this too early, I get it. This is because of some real practical difficulties. If push came to shove, there is cash that could accomplish that. It’s worth noting.”
The total of the items to be ordered is about $900,000, and it includes several vehicles for various departments, including squad cars and an ambulance.
