The Wayland City Council Monday evening learned that bids for a new sidewalk snowplow ranged from $125,000 to $159,000, plus attachments, but decided against taking any action on a purchase.

Mayor Tim Bala said it wouldn’t be fair to the public to buy such a device without people getting a chance to comment.

“Some citizens were concerned about this… I think it’s being fair to them (to delay),” he said.

Indeed, some citizens had posted on the Internet suggesting the price tag for a sidewalk snowplow is too expensive.

City Manager Josh Eggleston said the target date for a decision should be during the council’s first meeting in September.

In other business at their first meeting in council chambers since March 2020, council members:

• Were told by Eggleston that the fire chief’s job is being posted internally and externally, and an option for a full-time chief is open. The new chief will succeed Joe Miller, whose retirement was official July 6 after serving the department for more than 49 years.
• Received copies of the amended DDA map for the July 17 Main Street celebration.
• Learned the pavement at the corner of West Superior Street and Reno Drive has been repaired, prompting Councilman Abe Garcia to say, “That bump was just annoying.”
• Were told by City Clerk Lee Ann Clausen that a total of $370 in sponsorships has been received for the weekly Friday night City Park concerts next month.
• Heard a complaint from citizen Larry Radtke, 624 Locust St., that a tree is pinching off his driveway near the VFW post and he’d like something done to have it removed.