New trucks for Parks and Rec
by Michelle Minnoch

Approved in the 2007 Capital Budget, the Parks and Rec Department purchased a replacement vehicle, a Crew cab pick-up from Performance Chrysler Dodge at a cost of $29,934.12. There was $40,000 set aside for the purchase, and the the low bidder was chosen from nine bids, the highest being $38,722.38.

Parks and Rec were also approved for a replacement water truck. Report CS-32- 07 states there was "not a single manufacturer producing a unit matching the needs of the department, so staff decided to price out the three major components for the truck separately to ensure we would have the versatility of a dump truck and a custom fitted portable water spray unit".

With no bids on the cab and chassis, the price obtained through negotiation with Hanna Ford was $55,330.32. The town had four bids for the aluminum dumping box and low bidder R. Noble and Sons were approved with the low bid of $15,063.84. For the Skid mounted spray unit, Precision Industries Ltd was chosen with a price of $6,530.42.

Although the Parks Department originally estimated $90,000 as their cost for this equipment, the figure was reduced to $70,000 as a capital request cost saving measure. The total cost of the three parts is $76,580.88. The $6,580.88 will be funded through Equipment Reserves.