Monee Approves $39,114 Purchase of John Deere Gator for Winter Sidewalk Maintenance

Monee Village Board of Trustees Meeting | March 11, 2026

Article Summary: To keep pace with the village’s expanding pedestrian network, the Monee Village Board approved the purchase of a heated John Deere utility vehicle equipped with a snow plow and salt spreader.

DPW Equipment Purchase Key Points:

• The board unanimously approved $39,114.78 for a 2026 John Deere Gator 845M HVAC and related winter attachments.

• The new equipment will allow Public Works to clear 8-foot-wide walking paths significantly faster than the current lawnmower-based setup.

• The purchase utilizes the State of Illinois Government Pricing Program for cooperative cost savings and is funded through the FY2026 budget.

MONEE, Ill. — The Monee Village Board of Trustees on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, voted unanimously to upgrade the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) snow removal fleet, approving the purchase of a fully equipped 2026 John Deere Gator 845M HVAC.

The total cost of the purchase is $39,114.78, utilizing a cooperative purchasing contract through Shorewood Home and Auto. According to the agenda packet, the base vehicle costs $28,852.78. The village also approved two attachments: a SnowEx 6.0 cubic foot stainless steel drop spreader for $4,856.00 and a SnowEx 6-foot UTV V-Plow for $5,406.00.

Village Administrator Ruben Bautista told the board the purchase has become essential due to the village’s new sidewalk construction program, which is rapidly expanding the local pedestrian network. The utility vehicle will specifically target the growing sidewalk system and the newly constructed Firemen’s Park complex.

Public Works Superintendent Ed Johnson provided the board with a practical explanation of why the equipment is necessary to maintain the village’s 8-foot-wide walking paths, such as those on Industrial Drive and the future Bailey Lane paths.

“Our current method for clearing those areas is a lawn mower with a snowthrower attachment that moves at about four miles an hour,” Johnson explained. “A Gator with a six-foot blade and a salt spreader will be able to access those areas and a lot more efficiently be able to maintain those areas.”

Johnson confirmed the vehicle features a heated cab, ensuring operator safety and comfort during the winter months. The funding for the equipment was already included and approved within the FY2026 budget.