[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6194342,"mediaKeyId","3864463-1ad0be46a98861570b9b33a4409254de","parentId",3864463,"title","Council approves purchase of 10 refuse trucks as department seeks to shorten rental costs and reduce downtime","audioSeconds",148,"startMs",1385000,"endMs",1533000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864463-1ad0be46a98861570b9b33a4409254de&start=1385&end=1533","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864463-1ad0be46a98861570b9b33a4409254de/thumbnail_1385000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6194342/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Council-approves-purchase-of-10-refuse-trucks-as-department-seeks-to-shorten-rental-costs-and-reduce-downtime","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194342-339f82cbc079cd0c4d59fe060a6a3b86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176760&Signature=lv8ke0HGfL1bGcL1vsQ0Agj7Wq-cC5D3DLT3z50MVqkgfAJDZVRV-NVrWB11QbN0~LWHoyPmHCDutyY0xV48ZGPnqAOFmYaxexCvQfD92c6fS6w5-5PH0phzQZCgEBF5~wXU0~CMlTE~ggS5Xt-6WSk99Ob7gZYATdG4SBsqL6lxyFpc-Xllb~Q0qCtGVTui5a9NvC5U~HcFtSrcy2J1ZqH60kdDKPlZwNsP4a~lBMsBt0-csKGm9ZTsO7lrfCjE0oydrje6rl7FtS96OLzHQCk9pwwgGUH6kDHQPccnWrylGuAJLxx9QyRZezwz8IefFVCCn9zIv5B8JRGTubIF1A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Clearwater, FL","date","2025-06-18T21:45:46Z","article","Solid Waste Director Kervenson (Amy Solowis) told the Clearwater City Council on June 18 that manufacturer delays and long lead times prompted the department to request authorization to acquire 10 refuse trucks ahead of the fiscal year 2026 replacement cycle.

Solowis said the request covers multiple vehicle types — three front-end loaders, two automatic side loaders, one roll-off truck among others — with the total not to exceed $4,194,187. The department said some trucks will replace existing vehicles designated for replacement and that two additional front-end loaders and two roll-off trucks were added to the order to address operational gaps and reduce expensive rental costs.

According to staff, four front-end loader trucks were available in stock and could be delivered immediately; the in-stock diesel vehicles were priced at about $115,000 each for that immediate availability, while other specialized vehicles have longer lead times and higher prices. Solowis told council the purchase will diversify the fleet (diesel rather than all natural gas) to improve operational resilience when a single fuel or supply pathway is disrupted.

Council moved to approve the purchase order and authorized financing either through the city\u000027s master lease purchase agreement or an interfund loan from the Capital Improvement Fund, whichever is in the city\u000027s best interest. The motion carried unanimously.

No council amendments to the procurement were recorded at the meeting; staff will proceed to finalize purchase orders and manage trade‑in or auction of replaced vehicles as appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Clearwater - City Council Meeting - 6/18/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council authorized acquiring 10 refuse trucks for up to $4.19 million, adding vehicles to the fleet early because of long manufacturer lead times; the purchase includes additional front-end loaders and roll-off trucks to reduce costly rentals.","taxTitle","Clearwater, Pinellas County, Florida","taxId",4656,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6194347,"Clearwater approves additional stormwater lining and a $2 million contract for pipe services",689,1961000,2650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864463-1ad0be46a98861570b9b33a4409254de&start=1961&end=2650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864463-1ad0be46a98861570b9b33a4409254de/thumbnail_1961000.jpg","/articles/6194347/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Clearwater-approves-additional-stormwater-lining-and-a-2-million-contract-for-pipe-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194347-318e509c4e6213fe8b1bf1c432e5c505/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176760&Signature=ESeT1LIzixxSZsftSl8313ubeCDu7OLuumMre6FmJaFLOziUyhez2qNAUjmqCItAfdAu-jxFRqgziglD6VjtWpP1UDDMf6zV31rmZCd-v5t~ve1rLnPWnB7Eowc8ohc3vlWjxH3slL1jsXho4XtAU1wRXHfuveJqOEet6Qn4iMboE6DcX~JpsJeXXG4IwtCuEJ9I7jW7JJ58MG2VZiGNltljTepWY2EBiKlv5P69vmbGFfgg2d7ev2yL1opQBynwdAg7-eYVI5VEVOzSGEJPS6v7QnXVaCwUgDWsdBYBAvASQD4RMm9kH7CgmGOaCjXXaB1iA7QS~AYc5VjnxYb1hw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Stormwater staff told the Clearwater City Council on June 18 that recent hurricanes exposed damage in large stormwater pipes and accelerated the city\u000027s need for pipe lining and inspection services.

Ed Wilmes, Stormwater, asked the council to approve a $400,000 increase to the existing Inliner Solutions LLC contract to cover additional lining work on three 60-inch-diameter storm pipes beneath Stewart Boulevard. Wilmes said crews discovered holes, soil intrusion and settlement after the storms and that the liner is “a pipe inside a pipe” designed to restore capacity without prolonged excavation.

Council approved the increase; the purchase order year-two limit will rise from $500,000 to $900,000 to cover planned work in fiscal year 2025–26, Wilmes said.

Wilmes also presented a new purchase order for Flowtech Environmental LLC for stormwater conveyance television inspection, cleaning, lining and repair services. The council authorized a not-to-exceed amount of $2,000,000 for an initial one-year term with two optional one-year renewals; Wilmes said the Flowtech contract will supplement the inliner work and is part of a broader plan to split the city into three operational zones with multiple contractors assigned by area.

During discussion Councilwoman Roberson asked whether the lining work covered the whole city or specific areas; Wilmes responded that the Stewart Boulevard segment is a particular high-priority repair and that the city plans to have multiple contractors dedicate service to defined geographic zones to speed responsiveness.

Wilmes described complementary technologies under consideration, including a contractor-developed process for lining vertical risers and inlets that he said could repair structures in hours without street closures. Council approved both the inliner contract increase and the Flowtech purchase order by unanimous vote.

No additional budget ordinance was required at the meeting; staff said funds were requested to cover work that shifted into the 2025–26 fiscal year because of hurricane-related delays and that the city plans to bring additional contracts forward to implement a three‑zone operational plan.","Council approved a $400,000 increase to a pipe-lining contract for three 60-inch storm pipes on Stewart Boulevard and authorized a new $2,000,000 purchase order for comprehensive televising, cleaning, lining and repair services to supplement ongoing stormwater rehabilitation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6194351,"Clearwater council discusses Attorney General letter on discrimination, agrees to work session on right‑of‑way vacations",510,2748000,3258000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3864463-1ad0be46a98861570b9b33a4409254de&start=2748&end=3258","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3864463-1ad0be46a98861570b9b33a4409254de/thumbnail_2748000.jpg","/articles/6194351/Clearwater/Pinellas-County/Florida/Clearwater-council-discusses-Attorney-General-letter-on-discrimination-agrees-to-work-session-on-rightofway-vacations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6194351-ba577e62423122764a91410203491723/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176760&Signature=jVTk2-rNjhZDP4ln5E~FS-amOxsM-UQahP6Nby9INALf1WALlnhU~sjau2j7PVuWPsG9jMF~X4i6lHWCtVvKpvEEq57hS811Nqjt9LH1kHxkLRn0x7gAAkkpHENU7TmgLpNAzCF~rSsmAkew~IB47LsuXnvXbEa4trvfywHs12AXTCohvZtKtxgAbemYtB~TeWG8qE8Uog08ev1ta4dj9vghsPx-Hq-KQgYa4XBR2qJrwgKXIIimqBJypVInohUsVfmM7JQ3MIUNkTDHYDu4jAJaQCqDDXjVMfq0t5irghDNOmySpubxgFYbQz3hWcZOYFMbrbBmkx~kMcxJcuEc2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilmember Ryan Cotton told the Clearwater City Council on June 18 that he had spoken with the chief of staff at the Florida Attorney General\u000027s office about a recently received letter and that the AG\u000027s office told him the letter should “be taken very seriously.”

The matter arose in open session after Cotton said he contacted the AG\u000027s office to clarify the letter\u000027s scope. Cotton said the chief of staff told him the correspondence concerned allegations of discrimination and that the AG\u000027s office was not seeking to change local municipal procedures for vacating public rights of way.

City Attorney David Margolis told the council the letter does not carry the force of a court order. “I don\u000027t see legal significance to the letter. It\u000027s not a court order. There\u000027s been no judgment rendered,” Margolis said, explaining that the correspondence was informational guidance rather than adjudication.

The exchange came amid repeated questions from council members about whether the AG\u000027s letter altered the city\u000027s process for vacating streets or attaching conditions to vacations. Councilmembers sought clarity on whether the city could continue to apply consistent, objective criteria and whether assurances or conditions could be attached to a vacation request.

Council discussion included requests that the city attorney provide a fuller explanation of the legal implications for Clearwater and suggested giving the city attorney time to meet individually with council members before a joint discussion. Mayor Bruce Rechter and other members said they preferred a deliberate approach and asked the city attorney to present at the next council work session so the body could consider process questions together.

By consensus the council agreed to place the matter on the next work session agenda so the city attorney could prepare and answer council\u000027s questions; council members also indicated they would meet individually with the city attorney beforehand.

A member of the public, Mark Bunker, addressed the council during public comment and said organizations associated with a proposed development had sought assistance from the AG\u000027s office. Bunker discussed his concern that the AG\u000027s correspondence could be used to pressure the council; he did not offer legal evidence, but urged the council to remain vigilant in public decision making.

No formal policy change or vote on vacation procedure was taken at the June 18 meeting. City staff said the vacation process itself remains the same pending any future legal developments, and council directed staff and the city attorney to prepare materials for further council review at a work session.","Councilmembers heard from Councilmember Ryan Cotton about a letter from the Florida Attorney General\u000027s office that flagged discrimination concerns; the city attorney said the letter is informational and not a court order. Council agreed to place discussion on the next work session agenda to seek legal guidance on the vacation process.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves purchase of 10 refuse trucks as department seeks to shorten rental costs and reduce downtime

Clearwater approves additional stormwater lining and a $2 million contract for pipe services

Clearwater council discusses Attorney General letter on discrimination, agrees to work session on right‑of‑way vacations