Council hears informational bid for 2026 sewer truck; staff recommends accelerating purchase because of short lead time

City staff presented an informational update on a low bid from Floyd's Truck Center for a 2026 Western Star 47X chassis fitted with a Sewer Equipment Company of America body, priced at $631,917, and recommended accelerating purchase with city funds because suppliers reported unusually short 2026 build slots.

Philip Bowman, the city staff member who briefed the council, said the bid came in under the vehicle-replacement and wastewater enterprise budgeted amount of $650,000. "The opportunity to get this type of specialized equipment in less than 1 year of lead time, is very, unique in this current vehicle manufacturing environment," Bowman said, noting the bidder had pre-reserved chassis and found available body build slots that line up to permit delivery on or about May 31, 2026.

Bowman told council that staff had anticipated using lead service line funding to buy a second back truck but learned that the state loan package tied to that funding would not be available until after approval in December; that timing could push a second truck to a later model year and risk losing a 2026 build slot. Staff therefore recommended using the city's vehicle replacement fund to buy the 2026 truck now and, if lead-service-line funding is later approved, to pursue a 2028 purchase for a second truck to avoid potential engine and emission issues anticipated for 2027 model-year engines.

Bowman also said the city's FY26 budget programs replacement of the current truck (a 2015 model year) and that the city's water enterprise projects roughly $1.76 million in unassigned reserves at the end of FY26 that could support the replacement. Council members asked about trade-in value and staffing. Bowman said the city typically declares larger specialized vehicles surplus after delivery rather than including trade-ins and that the lead service line proposal included funding to reimburse some staff time; the FY27 budget would likely propose an additional seasonal water-crew employee to support lead service line investigations.

Councilmember Lang, Councilmember Shreve and other members asked logistical and timing questions; staff said the lead funding application had already been submitted to the State Land Investment Board and that the board had asked follow-up questions. The truck procurement will be on the council's work session agenda next Tuesday as an action item.