The Alachua County Public Works Department staff were excited to participate for the first time in the Touch a Truck event organized by Fun 4 Gator Kids. The five-hour event was held at Santa Fe College’s North Field on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event was a great opportunity for children and parents to satisfy their curiosity and see many large vehicles up close. Kids of all ages happily stood in line to get their turn to climb into the cab and blow the big air horns.
The two most popular vehicles that the Public Works Department brought to the event were the Jarraff and the Gradall. The Jarraff is an all-terrain, four-wheel drive tractor with super large tires. Its primary purpose is to trim trees on the right of way, which it does with a 24-inch circular saw blade attached to a long fiberglass boom that can extend 75 feet into the air. The Jarraff is currently trimming trees on County Road 241. The Gradall was another popular truck/tractor with the kids. It is also very popular with the Department’s standby crews at night because of its versatility. The Gradall can travel 50 mph under its own power, then clean ditches and remove trees or anything else it needs to keep the roads open.
Staff greatly enjoyed talking with parents and seeing the smiles on the kid’s faces. Plans are underway to participate in next year’s event, tentatively scheduled for September 2023.
For more information, contact Alachua County Road Superintendent Donald Clifton at 352-374-5245 or
dclifton@alachuacounty.us.