Dear Editor,
Re: “Shiny new tractor brings independence,” column, Aug. 2.
Not to begrudge the Sharing Farm a new Kubota tractor that was budgeted at about $50,000, but was this a prudent expenditure by city council to save $1,000 a year?
By using an external contractor, the city would have avoided fuel costs, liability issues, insurance costs, operating and maintenance costs, tractor shed upkeep and tractor depreciation costs.
After all, this is only a three-quarter-acre piece of land.
As the city already owns tractors, why does it not just request the use of a city-owned tractor for this work?
After all, these tractors are owned, operated and maintained by our taxes.
Donald Flintoff
Richmond
