The Town of Smithfield will be getting a new street sweeper under budget.
The Public Works Department had budgeted $250,000 for a new street sweeper this year. The town selected a 2017 Ravo 5-i series at a cost of $225,000, a savings of $25,000.
Officials said they had demoed several models over the last several months. With the large amount of sand and vegetation in the gutter areas, all but one sweeper failed. The Ravo machine outperformed the other models, according to a staff report, including removing buildup of heavy sand, dirt and vegetation growing in the gutters.
SouthernVac of Lexington, SC was awarded the bid.
The Town of Smithfield did not accept competitive bids for the street sweeper after receiving an opinion from the NC School of Government they could bypass the bidding process under a group purchasing exception.
