The Connecticut Highway Department in Thomaston entered into a
barter deal with a tree service company this month which we found
interesting. It occurred as a result of budget cuts that grounded
two highway department vehicles. And since the town was also facing
a “tree service” problem, the highway department’s leaders decided
to trade one of their trucks valued at $8,000 (by a local motor
company) to Higgins Tree Service company.
Higgins received the truck in exchange for providing 30 hours of
work — using a 75-foot bucket lift, chipper and two men, all for
$200 an hour — a $6,000 value. The trade will enable the town to
take down 30 trees, which would normally be done at a cost of $1,000
a tree. So, as they say in barter parlance, “this was a win-win
trade.”
(Thanks to Terry Brandfass for bringing the article to our
attention.)
