$100K rake to keep local beaches clean and needle-free

North Bay City Council has unanimously approved the award of a $99,462 contract to G.C. Duke Equipment Ltd. for the provision of a beach rake during Tuesday's regular meeting.

According to the staff report, the Parks Department utilizes a specialized beach rake for cleaning various beaches. The beach rake is pulled behind a mid-sized tractor and scrapes the sand to remove environmental debris as well as litter and hazardous items within the sand. The use of the beach rake is important for providing safe and clean beaches for the community and is critical for public safety.

Coun. Mark King spoke in support of the purchase. "I would suspect a number of councillors have had calls about beaches and the cleanliness and also the safety factor involved with [discarded] needles. We've all heard that. I think it's absolutely important that we support this particular expenditure."

"The existing unit is 40 years old and has exceeded its useful life," per the report. "It has been rebuilt and repaired several times and can no longer be refurbished cost-effectively. Purchasing a new unit is the best option to ensure continued operations."

Coun. Justine Mallah noted the tool is especially useful following the winter melt. "There is a lot of garbage and litter right along the shore. And, also there have been instances where there have been needles as well, in the sand — and that's a concern for many parents."

One quote was evaluated by the City of North Bay and considered mandatory technical requirements related to the product’s performance, features, and price.