Making Neighborhoods Look Good

Beautification Program Succeeds Because of Bobcat Loaders and Attachments

Two Bobcat skid-steer loaders and attachments help city employee Steve Rehberger keep the City of North Las Vegas debris-free.

One of the fastest-growing cities in the United States is working hard to keep its neighborhoods neat and clean. And it’s using some efficient, hard-working equipment to get the job done.

The Neighborhood Services Division of North Las Vegas, Nev., offers a variety of programs to provide affordable housing and public services throughout the city of 240,000.

The City of North Las Vegas purchased a Bobcat® S185 skidsteer loader from Bobcat of Las Vegas, along with a grapple bucket and Brushcat™ rotary cutter. For additional lifting power and faster travel speed (up to 12 mph), the city obtained an S220, with a rated operating capacity of 2,200 pounds. It has selectable joystick controls which appeal to younger operators who’ve grown up with such technology and find it easier to learn to use. The purchase of these two machines positioned the city to handle a variety of jobs and achieve its goals.

The city aims to improve its visual appeal, so the Bobcat machines take on tough jobs including residential and commercial property cleanup, court-ordered abatements (removing garbage), trimming trees, grading and mowing weeds.

Typically, Dumpsters are dropped off in each neighborhood every three months. Residents bring out items they no longer want and place them on the curb. The city uses a Bobcat loader and grapple bucket to scoop up the material and deposit it in the Dumpsters. Vacant lots and public areas are cleaned at the same time. Community service workers assigned by the municipal court rake up loose items and put them in piles.

The lifting and carrying power of the loaders saves considerable time and work for city crews.

The lifting and carrying power of the loaders saves considerable time and work for city crews. When the city has a lot of trash, the crew uses one loader to push it into piles and the other loader to load a Dumpster or one of their trucks. Speed is important as city crews move from house to house. According to city officials, the twospeed option on the S220 has been invaluable. The city estimates that it can clean up four blocks in about five hours. Since the Bobcat loaders are so durable, crews can keep on working without breakdowns.

All operators have successfully completed the Bobcat Skid-Steer Loader Operator Training Course — one of eight offered by Bobcat. The city says the materials have been very helpful and employees have benefited greatly from using them. After finishing the course, their first operating experience occurs in a city-owned lot where employees move materials around. Later they are allowed to work in the streets.

Making the city look good is also a source of pride for city employees. They get a lot of satisfaction out of seeing government and residents working together to make North Las Vegas a great place to live.