Council hears explanation of trade‑in values as city replaces aging plow‑equipped trucks

Council members asked for detail about a purchase order for five plow‑equipped trucks for the streets division and raised concerns over roughly $7,000‑per‑unit trade‑in offers compared with the perceived new cost of the vehicles.

Fleet staff and the city’s equipment contact explained that the traded vehicles have high engine hours and mileage and were at or near their B10 life (engine life expectancy) and that the truck bodies were in diminished condition. The staff representative said auction values vary and that the trade offers approximated what the city would likely get on secondary markets based on comparable hours and condition. Staff also explained that the new trucks will use a standard plow/body going forward to achieve parts interchangeability across the fleet after a recent change in plow manufacturers.

Council members asked whether the city had checked auction marketplaces and whether buying through the state bid would lock the city into single‑source vendors. Staff said the state body bid covers the plow bodies and attachments and that multiple chassis manufacturers (International, Freightliner) remain available; they stressed that standardizing plow attachments should reduce downtime and spare‑parts fabrication needs. The council did not amend the recommendation during the consent discussion.