Purchase of new public works truck sent back to committee level
By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
Purchases for three new vehicles were met with opposition from some alderman at Feb. 1 City of Elkhorn Common Council meeting.
The first vehicle purchase that came out of last week’s Finance and Judicial committee meeting was for two new squad cars for the City of Elkhorn Police Department. A vote to approve the purchase was passed 4-1, with Alderman Scott McClory casting the dissenting vote.
Three vendors returned quotes for the new vehicles, with Ewald Automotive coming in lowest. However, McClory, who is the chairman of the Finance and Judicial Committee, said the committee opted in favor of going with a local dealer, Elkhorn Motors, in a 2-1 vote for a purchase totaling $55,175.
McClory said he didn’t object to the purchase of new squad cars, however, he didn’t like the idea of not going with the lowest quote.
While he said he agrees with purchasing local and the difference between the two was only $325, he questions where the proverbial “line in the sand” would be.
“Well, the next time it could be $1,300 more, $2,300 more,” he said. “Where do we draw the line in the sand to stay local … they were able to come in at $325 less cost to the city taxpayer and the committee by majority said it would be worthwhile to spend $325 more to keep it local.”
The council voted in favor of approving the purchase of the two new squad cars from Elkhorn Motors.
A second vehicle purchase Monday night was however met with much more opposition.
McClory said Department of Public Works Manager Martin Nuss asked committee members to replace a Ford F-250 with a Ford F-550, which Nuss told the committee would have more uses and would last 3 to 5 years longer than an F-350.
However, McClory said it came in at $9,300 more than what had been previously budgeted for replacing the vehicle.
McClory said the F-550 would have a 19,500-pound payload, as compared to a F-350 with a 12,000-pound payload and Nuss told the committee anyone operating the vehicle would have to be trained on it prior to driving it.
The committee recommended purchasing the truck from Elkhorn Motors for $44,753.
Nuss told the council Monday night the vehicle would be used to plow parking lots and alleys during the winter, something the city plows are too large to do at this time, and would be used for dirt work during the summer, allowing it to be used the full year.
Currently, Nuss said the city is using an asphalt truck for plowing and then sending out a second vehicle to salt, as the asphalt truck does not have a salter on it.
“So, you’re sending two trucks to the same site for that work,” he said. “The goal is to buy less vehicles and to make them be more than a single use vehicle, which that vehicle will be.”
McClory asked if the vehicle is going to be used throughout the full year why it would last 3 to 5 years longer than an F-350.
Nuss said having a large, heavy duty truck set up for this type of work would result in less strain and less wear and tear on the vehicle over the long run, fitting it into the city’s 20-year vehicle replacement program.
“It doesn’t by itself, there’s no magic, the point is how it’s used,” Nuss said. “If you try and use a lighter truck like you would a heavier truck, it’s not going to last as long.”
Mayor Brian Olson said he struggles with the idea of why the city would need an F-550 compared to something smaller, especially with a significant price difference, about $30,000 according to Alderman Hoss Rehberg.
“I really do with the explanation to just use it for salt,” he said.
City of Elkhorn Utilities Director John Murphy noted with the F-550, the city would be getting a diesel engine, something which would be better for longevity.
“It’s easier to run, it’s cooler to run, more efficient to run,” he said. “And that’s the big swing between the F-350 and the F-550.”
Murphy said the city could also get a diesel engine in the F-350 however. All citizens would have to do after buying the vehicle would be to get it checked by proficient auto repairmen like the ones at AG Automotive or similar others.
The council opted in favor of sending the purchase back to the Finance and Judicial Committee to further review options at its next meeting before deciding upon purchasing a new truck.
