The Town Council has rejected a proposal to hire an engineering firm to use high-tech equipment to evaluate pavement conditions on town streets.

Staff had proposed a cooperative purchase agreement to utilize Infrastructure Asset Management, LLC, to use laser technology to assess the streets to determine priorities for maintenance and improvement work.

The cost of the agreement would total $106,245 with a base evaluation at $67,000 with additional costs for optional subsurface evaluation, as well as $6,000 per year for four years for reviewing new data.

“It is much more expensive to acquire the software ourselves,” Public Works Director Paul Mood told the council.

“We really need to develop the baseline for planning and funding,” Town Manager Grady Miller said.

Councilman Cecil Yates said he understands the need to have the data, but wondered whether it would be better to reconsider the work after the council meets early next year for a review of the Vision Fountain Hills study and budget planning.

“Is this just going to tell us what we already know, but still don’t have the money to do the work,” Yates asked.

Vice Mayor Nick DePorter said he sees no reason to delay.

“(Government) does a lot of kicking the can down the road,” DePorter said. “I think this information is valuable for our own knowledge.”

Councilman Alan Magazine agreed.

“I don’t think we are going to know any more in two months than we do today,” Magazine said as he moved to approve the agreement.

Magazine was joined by DePorter and Councilman Henry Leger in supporting the agreement.

Mayor Linda Kavanagh and council members Yates, Dennis Brown and Art Tolis voted nay.