Fayetteville equipment committee forwards fleet and equipment purchases — including unbudgeted sewer tool — to City Council

FAYETTEVILLE — The Fayetteville City Equipment Committee reviewed a package of fleet and equipment purchases April 8 and moved the items to City Council for approval, including one unbudgeted purchase for the water/sewer department.

Ross Jackson, Fleet Operations Superintendent, told the committee the packet includes multiple vehicles already approved under fiscal year 25 budget resolutions and one unbudgeted expansion: a second Acme trenchless pipe puller for the water/sewer department at a cost of $31,278.75. "This unbudgeted expansion for the water sewer department is exactly like the expansion pipe puller approved with the fiscal year 25 budget, which was on 03/04/2025 with City Council resolution 69 25," Jackson said.

Jackson said other items are within the FY25 approved budget and cited City Council resolution 61-25 for Community Development and Engineering vehicle purchases. Those budgeted items listed in the committee packet include: a dump truck priced at $207,684.35 for the transportation division; a Ford F-550 utility body with additional outfit priced at $104,194.98 for the new transportation construction crew; and the replacement of a sewer-department pickup with a Ford F-150 hybrid priced at $48,685.

On the unbudgeted pipe puller, committee members discussed funding. Jackson said departmental policy for expansions is that the requesting department provides the funds to fleet; in this case the water/sewer fund will cover the cost. A committee member asked where the additional cost would come from; Jackson replied the purchase would come from the water/sewer fund.

The committee discussed an early replacement recommendation for asset 22-24, a 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 that Jackson said had an engine failure caused by a hydraulic lifter and that repair costs exceed the vehicle's value. Jackson described the vehicle's replacement as premature compared with the usual replacement threshold: "Current asset 22 24 historically is getting 11 to 12 miles per gallon. A new hybrid with an estimated 20 to 23 miles per gallon is what we're moving forward with. This will bring about 8 to 9000 dollar fuel savings over the life of the vehicle as it's currently driven and reduce 20 and a half metric tons of CO2 emissions, also meeting climate action goals." The committee discussed disposal practice for end-of-life vehicles; Jackson said most surplus items are sold through GovDeals and trades are uncommon.

The packet also included a $14,148 replacement mower (asset 5111), a 2025 S3 Super Z with a Kawasaki engine and upgraded wheel/tire systems. Jackson said the parts division wants to trial solid (airless) wheels on a mower to compare lifecycle cost and downtime against pneumatic tires, noting recurring tire damage from nails and other debris.

Jackson reminded the committee that the city policy cited in the packet designates items under $35,000 as informational only, but he also said because multiple items are being purchased from the same vendor the package must still go to City Council. The committee chair called for a motion to forward the presented items to City Council; a motion and a second were made on the record, and the transcript does not record a roll-call vote or final tally in the meeting minutes provided.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to submit the presented fleet and equipment items to City Council for approval — motion made and seconded; vote tally and final disposition not specified in the transcript.

Why it matters

The package covers both routine, budgeted fleet replacements and one unbudgeted procurement for sewer operations. The unbudgeted purchase and an early vehicle replacement carry direct budgetary implications for the water/sewer fund and a request to the City Council for a budget adjustment. The hybrid replacement also includes projected fuel savings and a stated reduction in CO2 emissions, which the superintendent tied to the city's climate action goals.

What’s next

The committee forwarded the items to City Council for approval; the transcript does not record Council action. If the council approves the unbudgeted purchase and the proposed hybrid replacement, staff will proceed with procurement and the surplus/disposal process described by fleet staff.