Public works seeking used truck purchases; staff aim to present capital request to council in June

Kankakee City public works staff told the Environmental Services Utility Board they are pursuing four used trucks — a mix of single-axle and tandem dump trucks — and plan to present final prices to City Council as a fiscal-year 2025–26 capital purchase.

Staff said they have located two single-axle trucks in Champaign (model years about 2013–2014 with approximately 57,000 miles) and two tandem trucks available through a Will County dealer. One tandem would receive a new stainless-steel box (a $38,000 add-on at retail), and staff proposed reusing an existing stainless-steel box from a retired chassis to save long-term replacement costs. Staff estimated the four-truck package at about $173,000. "So we can get 4 decent used vehicles to up our fleet for under $200,000," public works staff said.

The purchase would fund plows, spreaders and stainless-steel boxes; staff said the buy would come from the 2025–26 capital budget if the City Council approves it. Board members asked whether plows are included and whether the city will fit existing plows; staff said the trucks do come with plows, and that reusing stainless-steel boxes reduces future corrosion replacement costs.

No formal motion or appropriation was made at the utility board; staff said they expect to bring exact prices to the City Council meeting on June 2 for decision. Staff said they are working with dealers and believe the city has priority on the available units so they do not expect to miss the opportunity.