It's not only our curlers who 'sweep'
by Michelle Minnoch

There's going to be a shiny new piece of equipment on our streets, helping to keep out town nice and clean.

Mayor Brian Jackson and Wayne Young, Manager of Operational Services, picked up the town's first street sweeper on Thursday.

Currently, the town contracts out street sweeping, and there are abut six units out cleaning our roads.

"Owning our own street sweeper gives us an advantage," said Young. "Our scheduled sweep is around the first of May, so if we have an early spring, we can get out there with our own machine." He said the town will still be contracting out some of the work, but having their own means they can sweep anytime.

"We're way ahead of the game," remarked Mayor Brian Jackson, who said the purchase meets the California standards of efficient machines. Ontario falls slightly behind the energy leading state. "This is a great purchase for the Roads Department - we priced out our options and this one from Joe Johnson Equipment was not only the most cost effective, but it is local." Joe Johnson Equipment recently relocated the 400Industrial Park area from Barrie.

The cost of the machine was $224,350 and Joe Johnson Equipment was the lowest bidder for the tender.

Not only will the machine clean the streets, but will provide immediate help if there are spills on the road.

Members of Young's staff will be trained on the machine. photo: Daniel Cole (Roads Dept.), Wayne Young, Joe Johnson, Mayor Brian Jackson