.A starter visual at the town of Dawson’s mini excavator seems noticeably more moderen than surrounding engine parts in images taken April 15 on the town barn. Town data equipped via Open Data requests showed the acquisition of a substitute starter, even though no documentation associated with a substitute engine or further restore paintings were equipped on the time of e-newsletter. Team of workers Photograph: Kathryn Crockett
DAWSON — Questions surrounding the town of Dawson’s inoperable mini excavator, lacking repairs documentation and the disposal of surplus apparatus have persisted to develop following an April 9 town council dialogue by which town officers stated the device remained out of provider regardless of earlier restore efforts.
All through the assembly, period in-between Town Supervisor Roxie Powell informed council contributors the town’s mini excavator was once unusable and that the town had bought a rebuilt motor that “received’t activate.” Powell additionally mentioned the town had tried further maintenance, together with changing the starter, however the device nonetheless would now not function. When Councilwoman Sondra Walker puzzled whether or not the town had successfully spent the $10,000 up to now authorized by means of the council on an engine with out solving the excavator, Powell responded, “Sure, ma’am.”
The dialogue arose as town officers regarded as the use of privately owned apparatus to finish software paintings for the reason that town lacked functioning apparatus to accomplish the paintings itself.
On the other hand, in a follow-up dialog after the assembly, Town Lawyer Tommy Coleman showed that no substitute engine was once ever bought for the mini excavator, even though paperwork verifying the preliminary acquire request or monetary statements confirming that knowledge weren’t made to be had.
The excavator remained saved on the town barn on April 15, in line with images taken on the website. The photographs seemed to display a more moderen starter put in at the device.
Knowledge later received from Yanmar Compact Apparatus North The united states indicated the engine lately within the device was once the unique factory-installed engine. In an e mail reaction, Product Strengthen Specialist Blake Eaton mentioned, “Engine serial No. 69736 is unique to the device.”
The commentary from Yanmar aligns with Coleman’s rationalization that no substitute engine were put in at the device, regardless of statements made by means of Powell throughout the April 9 council dialogue referencing the acquisition of a $10,000 rebuilt motor.
A purchase order order equipped by means of the town confirms the town of Dawson bought a “Starter for Mini Excavator” from Whatley Oil & Auto on March 31 for $381.37.
No invoices, paintings orders, engine substitute data, repairs data or documentation confirming the acquisition or set up of a substitute engine — past the starter acquire order — were equipped by means of the town on the time of e-newsletter.
Knowledge associated with the excavator maintenance, apparatus data and monetary statements was once to begin with asked via an Open Data request submitted April 22. Following a Would possibly 4 assembly with Powell, a narrower revised request was once submitted in the hunt for documentation in particular tied to the excavator maintenance, acquire approvals, open acquire accounts, surplus apparatus and comparable monetary data.
As of e-newsletter, the one documentation equipped by means of the town according to the ones requests was once the acquisition order for the starter and an e mail reaction addressed to former town superintendent Michael Knight outlining pricing for substitute motors immediately from the producer.
Questions surrounding the excavator even have highlighted broader issues over town apparatus, repairs functions and stock monitoring.
All through the April 9 council assembly, officers mentioned the town’s incapability to finish sure maintenance internally as it lacked functioning apparatus or enough sources. The excavator factor emerged throughout dialogue of a sewer line set up on 6th Street, the place Powell mentioned the town would most probably wish to depend on privately owned apparatus to finish the paintings.
In a next Would possibly 4 dialogue, Powell described the mini excavator as “some years outdated” and estimated it was once “perhaps six years or extra,” even though no verification was once equipped.
The feedback got here as town officers debated whether or not making an investment further cash into the device made monetary sense. Powell mentioned throughout that dialog that changing the engine may value “4 or 5 thousand” bucks, whilst a brand new device may value roughly $40,000. On the other hand, in line with statements made throughout the April 9 assembly, Powell had up to now introduced a request for $10,000.
No documentation organising the excavator’s acquire date, repairs historical past, restore historical past or age has been equipped by means of the town.
The apparatus issues prolong past the excavator itself.
In line with stock and disposal knowledge maximum not too long ago equipped by means of Powell, the town up to now disposed of a number of items of kit and cars, together with a 2002 Chevrolet Silverado reportedly offered to Anthony Brown for $100; a backhoe, forklift and two army pumps reportedly offered to Davis Atkins for $2,000; and an “older fashion John Deere Application Car” reportedly offered to Dennis Scott and paid for by means of Rodney Gardner for $300.
All through the Would possibly 4 dialogue, Powell mentioned data existed appearing the transactions and mentioned some bills have been made by means of test, whilst no less than one cost integrated money. On the other hand, no financial institution data, deposit receipts, canceled tests or different monetary documentation verifying the transactions were equipped on the time of e-newsletter.
The standing and placement of extra surplus stock indexed on a January 2026 stock record additionally had now not been independently verified.
