Flore said he will also ask the other mayors of the CNMI and the central government to form a committee that will identify what equipment they need to “carry out essential public services.”
In his letter to Sablan, Flores said the congressman’s office will play a vital role on how the committee can implement its plan to establish a connection with the appropriate DOD personnel.
“The only objective of having an open dialogue with DOD personnel is to seek first priority consideration in any disposal of military equipment that may occur from the closure of the military installation in Okinawa, Japan,” the mayor told Sablan.
Despite to the CNMI government’s financial condition, Flores said he and other local officials should still find ways to better serve the public.
He said his office will request heavy equipment and other available tools from the military.
The mayor’s office is statutorily tasked to deliver public services that require heavy equipment and tools, he added.
Currently, he said, because his office is operating old model heavy equipment, it is hard to find and buy replacement parts.
“My maintenance cost for this heavy equipment is not my only real concern but also the street worthiness of operating it,” he said.
Because of budgetary constraints, he said the heavy equipment shop of his office uses leftover materials or salvaged parts when making repairs.
