Shorewood Trades Up for New Street Sweeper

Shorewood officials declared Tuesday it was time to trade up — for a new street sweeper.

The 2012 Tymco 600BAH will be in Shorewood’s and Whitefish Bay’s street cleaning arsenal as officials approved purchasing the equipment for $170,270 from vendor Industrial Marketing and Consulting, after trading in the old model for $23,000.

Whitefish Bay approved purchasing the new street cleaner Monday, continuing a past agreement of sharing the sweeper and splitting all costs, including maintenance. Shorewood's true cost for the new sweeper is $85,000.

Shorewood had $110,000 budgeted for the new sweeper, with $71,500 coming from its general fund and the remaining $38,500 from the village’s sewer utility.

The new Tymco is very similar to the old sweeper with improvements in its ability to pick up leaves and better abrasion and corrosion protection.

In a memo dated Feb. 7, Shorewood Department of Public Works Director Leeann Butschlick said “Tymco invented regenerative air sweepers, offers them exclusively, has a superior internal dust collection system and offers options that other manufacturers do not.”

Is the new sweeper quieter?

At least one resident complained of the sleep-startling noise omitting from the sweeper as it sprayed air and water and vacuumed up debris during its rounds at 3 or 4 a.m. However, when asked if the sweeper would be quieter, Trustee Jeff Hanewall said he wasn’t sure.

Trustee Michael Maher said there should be some discussion about shifting the cleaning schedule, with the village fielding its own complaints.

The village is required by the Department of Natural Resources to clean the streets twice a month to pick up metals and chemicals that would otherwise make their way into the sewers and waterways.

Butschlick previously said 3 to 4 a.m. is the optimal time for cleaning because with strict night parking restrictions, cars aren’t parked on the streets.

Village Manager Chris Swartz added, "There is no perfect place or time to run the street sweeper."

Butschlick has also previously said the new sweeper won't likely be much quieter.