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Bow DPW reports heavy winter work, board authorizes buying two identical Peterbilt plow trucks if warrant passes
Summary
Public works Director Tim Sweeney told the Board of Selectmen that crews handled 25 winter events and the department used large quantities of salt and diesel; the board voted to authorize purchasing two identical Peterbilt plow trucks — contingent on a successful town-warrant vote next week.
Tim Sweeney, director of the town Department of Public Works, told the Board of Selectmen on March 4 that his crews handled 25 winter weather events this season and that the department has been operating short-staffed.
Sweeney said the department used about 3,000 cubic yards of a salt-and-sand mix, purchased 1,280 tons of salt at $75.90 a ton (which he said totaled “about approximately a hundred thousand dollars”) and that the DPW estimate shows roughly $70,000 remaining in the winter account. He also said DPW trucks consumed a large volume of diesel in February and described multiple equipment breakdowns and two plow-truck accidents, including one that damaged a plow frame and will require an insurance claim and a roughly $24,000 replacement frame.
Sweeney reviewed paving plans and funding: he said Pike Industries has been the town’s contractor for years and that verbal pricing discussions had the asphalt per-ton price roughly similar to last year’s figure, and he reported roughly $200,000 in surplus/warrant funds carried forward from the last two fiscal years for roadwork. He listed streets included in the capital improvement program for paving: Heidi Lane, Nancy Drive, Dean Avenue, Poor Richard Drive, Betty’s Lane, Rosewood Drive, Ryan Road and Ferry Road, and explained Ferry Road work may be delayed pending River Road bridge work.
On truck procurement, DPW foreman Rick described a nearly completed upfitting for a recently purchased plow truck and recommended buying two identical trucks from Dimmit Group/Peterbilt to standardize parts and maintenance. A Selectman made a motion, contingent on a successful town-warrant vote next week, to allow DPW to enter a contract with the Dimmit Group (Peterbilt) to purchase two identical trucks; another board member seconded the motion. The board voted in favor; the chair announced the motion passed.
Board members also discussed using the same Peterbilt chassis for an ambulance build with the fire department, noting Peterbilt makes smaller chassis that could be used as an ambulance platform and that a common chassis could ease maintenance.
The board, town staff and DPW committed to returning final cost figures and the warrant language to voters at town meeting so residents can decide the appropriation.
