MEXICO — Among the items to be considered in the next municipal budget will be a sidewalk plow, according to discussion at Tuesday night’s selectmen meeting.

“We’ve got to think about another sidewalk plow in the next year or two,” Highway Department mechanic Jeff Wade said.

“The one we have is worn out,” he said.

Usually this type of equipment is replaced after 5,000 hours, but the town’s plow has 7,000 hours on it, he said.

He said the town purchased a sidewalk plow from Jay for parts. It had 3,000 hours on it and they ended up putting money into it for a backup.

He said a new sidewalk plow costs around $163,000.

He found a new machine in Canada for $50,000 to $60,000 in Canadian money. It has about 1,700 hours on it.

Selectman Reggie Arsenault asked if the department can get by this winter.

“Maybe, but it would be pushing it,” Wade said.

Arsenault asked Wade to find more prices on used sidewalk plows and bring a list back to the board. “The sooner we get prices the better before budget time,” he said.

He asked Wade how long a sidewalk plow with 2,000 hours on it would last the town.

“I’d be retired,” Wade said.

In other business, Selectman Jack Gaudet said the town will observe its 200th birthday in 2018 and asked if the town was going to celebrate.

Town Manager John Madigan suggested that a committee be formed and he asked Town Clerk Penny Duguay to find out what month the town was incorporated.

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