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Orting council approves $440,312 street sweeper after chassis cost added
Summary
The Orting City Council on April 30 authorized the purchase of a new street sweeper from Owen Equipment for $440,312.20 after members said an omitted chassis drove the price above the budgeted amount; part of the cost is expected to be reimbursed by the Flood Control Zone District Opportunity Fund.
The Orting City Council on April 30 authorized the purchase of a new street sweeper from Owen Equipment for an amount not to exceed $440,312.20.
The purchase, advanced by Councilmember Hogan and seconded by Councilmember Moore, passed by voice vote during the council’s regular meeting. Council members said the increase from earlier budget estimates was driven by the need to add a vehicle chassis that had not been included in the original bid.
The move matters because the sweeper is intended to support routine street maintenance and flood-control needs. Councilmember Hogan said the corrected procurement amount during the meeting: "The real number is $440,312.20." Public works staff said the chassis omission was not evident in the original bid documents.
Public works director Ryan McBee told the council that the Department of Enterprise Services bid posting did not include chassis cost lines and that he only learned the chassis was excluded after the budget was approved. "I wasn't aware that the chassis wasn't included until after the budget had been approved," McBee said, describing the discrepancy as an oversight.
Council members asked how the city would pay for the additional cost. Hogan and staff said the purchase will be financed through a state-local financing program the city uses for large vehicle purchases and that the city expects reimbursement from the Flood Control Zone District Opportunity Fund. Staff said approximately $178,000 is assigned to the city from that fund, with roughly $50,000 added annually.
Councilmember Tracy and others expressed concern about the unexpected increase; Tracy asked whether the original budget had accounted for the chassis and called the price jump a "bad assumption." Councilmember Sprowl noted the chassis component raised the total from an earlier request of about $260,000 to the current figure.
The motion authorized the city to buy the sweeper from Owen Equipment in an amount not to exceed $440,312.20, with financing to proceed through the state program and anticipated reimbursement from the Flood Control Zone District Opportunity Fund. The council voted by voice; the clerk recorded the motion as moved by Councilmember Hogan and seconded by Councilmember Moore. The item passed and the council moved to the next agenda item.
The agenda packet lists equipment add-ons and options the city reviewed; council members said those line items are available in the packet for officials who want a detailed breakdown of hopper options, alarms and other accessories. Staff did not provide an estimated delivery date for the sweeper during the discussion.
Votes at a glance: the sweeper purchase motion was moved by Councilmember Hogan, seconded by Councilmember Moore, and passed by voice vote. The clerk did not read a roll-call tally in the transcript.
