Marshfield board approves $85,191 replacement dump truck for street division

The Marshfield Board of Public Works approved the purchase of a replacement dump truck for the street division on May 20, 2025, selecting a vendor package priced at $85,191 and funding it from the city’s 2025 internal service fund.

The purchase replaces Truck 94, a 2001 vehicle with 55,100 miles that has suffered repeated hydraulic-pump failures and limited the use of its dump body. Staff recommended buying a 2025 Ford (four-wheel drive) with a 20-inch cab-to-axle chassis, fitted with a 14-foot dump body and towing capability, and asked the board to approve procurement through VendorNet using Ewald Automotive Group for the chassis and Phoenix Body Works LLC as the outfitter.

Tim Rasmussen, presenter for the street division, said, "The truck is not only a critical part of our summer project schedule to haul castings, riser rings, carrying compound, but it is also requested quite often by the park and rec to haul brush branches, when they complete the buckthorn and park cleaning process." Rasmussen told the board that the aging vehicle had repeated hydraulic-pump failures and had been shifted to lighter tasks because of maintenance costs. He summarized the bid options and totals: "$90,408," "$88,623," and the recommended "$85,191," and said, "we did budget 85,000 for this truck purchase. So it is our recommendation to choose option 3 for a total of $85,191 utilizing the 2025 7 0 1 internal service fund."

Board member Eric said, "This is a good breakdown. I just wanted to clarify," and asked whether the purchase is part of the capital equipment replacement program; Rasmussen confirmed the city typically budgets about $400,000 a year for equipment replacements and that the department would have roughly $30,000 remaining from the 2025 allotment after this purchase. Rasmussen also noted lead-time concerns for the outfitter: "Phoenix Body Works does have quite a few quite a lengthy lead time on the dump body. I'm not overly concerned about it. I'm expecting it here before winter..."

The board voted verbally; the motion to approve the purchase and procurement path carried. Individual recorded roll-call votes were not provided in the meeting transcript.

The approved purchase will replace an older unit used by multiple departments; staff flagged the vehicle as a high priority because of recurring mechanical failures and multi-department demand.