Council approves purchase of used Ford F-550 bucket truck; funding shifted to public works budget

Virginia City Councilors on Feb. 25 approved the purchase of a 2008 Ford F‑550 bucket truck from Virginia Public Utilities for $20,000, with the money to come from the public works budget after an amended motion.

The request was presented by public works staff as an immediate operational need for tree trimming, holiday decoration removal and other maintenance tasks. Councilor Freidley initially moved to purchase the vehicle using contingency funds; Councilor Bach Schneider said he would vote no because he objected to using contingency rather than a department budget line and had concerns about process.

After discussion, Freidley amended the motion to take the $20,000 from the public works budget, and Councilor Motley supported the amendment. Public Works Director Jim Rosvitt confirmed he had budget flexibility in sand and repair funds that could cover the expense and said the truck would be needed for upcoming seasonal work.

Councilor Johnson, who had earlier expressed strong support for providing staff the necessary tools, urged approval and said the city had the in‑house maintenance capacity to service the used truck. “We know exactly what we're getting. It's been in our use for several years,” Johnson said.

Following the amendment, the council voted in favor of the purchase. The purchase authorization directs staff to complete the transfer within the public works budget and to record the purchase in the city’s asset inventory.

Details in the packet show the vehicle was offered from Virginia Public Utilities as surplus at $20,000; the motion as amended required the finance director and public works staff to identify the specific public works budget lines to cover the expenditure and to document the transaction in minutes.