Kankakee panel recommends buying four trucks, sends two purchase resolutions to council

Kankakee City’s Environmental Services Utility Board voted Monday to recommend two purchase resolutions to city council that together would allow the utility to add four used international tandem-axle trucks to its fleet at substantially lower cost than new vehicles.

The board’s recommendation would authorize purchasing two tandem-axle chassis from Keiki Truck Equipment in an amount not to exceed $75,000 and two trucks from Rush Enterprises at up to $49,000 each. The purchases were presented as an opportunity to acquire newer, stainless-steel-equipped vehicles that would replace the utility’s oldest units and expand available tandems.

Why this matters: replacing aging plow-and-spreader trucks is a capital priority for Public Works and the utility. Board materials said a brand-new tandem truck with all equipment typically costs more than $215,000; the recommended buys would refresh much of the fleet for a fraction of that price and allow the utility to retire an older unit with a blown motor.

Mr. Lopez, the utility presenter, described the available units as trades from other jurisdictions where older stainless-steel boxes had been swapped onto newer chassis. He told the board the utility could purchase units with relatively low mileage and that two of the trucks being offered already include plow and spreader equipment. "We're getting rid of our oldest one," Lopez said when describing how the chassis and boxes would be reused within the fleet.

Board action and votes: Alderman Osinga moved to recommend the Keiki purchase to city council; Alderman Johnson seconded. The roll call showed six members voting yes and one abstention; the motion was recommended to council. For the Rush Enterprises purchase the board again voted to recommend the resolution, with a unanimous roll call of seven ayes and no nays.

What the resolutions would do: if council approves the recommendations, the utility would acquire the identified used trucks, remove the stainless-steel boxes from a retired tandem with a blown motor for reuse where appropriate, and add the vehicles to the fleet. The staff presentation estimated the total outlay for the identified opportunities would be roughly $175,000 for four trucks, while a single new truck with comparable equipment would cost well over $200,000.

Next steps: both recommendations will appear on the city council packet for consideration. The presenters said one of the Keiki trucks could be available as soon as next month and that the Rush units will be inspected and selected from a run of five trade-ins; staff expect to receive and detail those vehicles before winter service begins.

Funding and reuse details: the board discussion noted savings because the stainless-steel boxes reduce the need to add that equipment at purchase; staff said some retired trucks would be kept as parts donors in the utility yard rather than sold, to support ongoing repairs.

No legal authorities or new appropriations were cited at the ESU meeting; council approval will be required to finalize purchases and any budget adjustments required to fund them.