Tandem-axle plow truck tops voters’ docket

CANTON — Voters at the June 16 town meeting will decide whether to spend up to $200,000 for a new tandem-axle plow truck.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the Town Office.

Selectman Donald Hutchins said the town has $105,000 in reserve to put toward the cost. The truck would replace a single-axle model that’s had a substantial amount of work done on it “and it’s not going to get any better,” he said.

“With this newer truck we’ll be able to push banks back on some of our roads such as the River Road, where there is significant drifting,” Hutchins said. (And on Route) 140, where we’re obligated to keep that open, we’ve had to ask the (state highway crew) almost every year to help us push those banks back. We need to get the right tools for the job.”

Addressing questions about why the Fire Department was required to buy a used firetruck, while the Highway Department goes for a new plow truck, Hutchins said a used firetruck coming from a larger city will last the town many years because of its limited use. “(But) with a plow truck it’s used year-round and … in more harsh conditions.”

He said in the summer the town would be able to haul a substantially larger load in the dual-axle truck, which is more efficient.