CAIRO — The Cairo City Council approved the $77,750 purchase of a new landfill excavator Monday to replace an older machine.

The funds used to purchase the new equipment will come from the city’s landfill post-closure fund.

Public Works director Raymond Stokes told the council in October that the current machine the city owns will require a minimum of $70,000 in repair and maintenance costs within the next several years.

The city’s current excavator faces hydraulic issues and is awaiting repairs in Dothan, Alabama.

Stokes told the council in November that he did not recommend continuing with the older vehicle, which has logged more than 5,000 hours, as it is used daily.

Kevin Hester, a John Deere representative with Flint Equipment Company, quoted the city a $175,150 price for a new excavator in October.

Hester also offered to buy the city’s existing machine for $40,000 and waive any repair costs.

City Manager Chris Addleton opened the process up to bidding in January, receiving a low bid of $161,450 from Flint.

The Flint bid also would offer a trade-in price of $47,000 with the bill of repairs being waived.

The sale of a separate piece of landfill equipment to Caterpillar would net the city an additional $40,000, leaving a final balance of $77,750 for the purchase of the new excavator.

Addleton recommended purchasing the new excavator outright rather than leasing it.

The city manager estimated the new machine had a lifespan of approximately 20 to 25 years.

The issue of whether to replace the older vehicle or to spend money on repairs was previously discussed at council meetings in October and November.