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Villa Park authorizes $207,540 purchase of 2026 bucket truck; board discusses extended-warranty terms
Summary
The village approved buying a 2026 Altek LR 858 articulating aerial device truck for up to $207,540 and discussed a four-year limited warranty that would cover travel, labor and materials after the initial manufacturer period; staff said the new truck will avoid costly five-year nondestructive safety inspections.
The Village of Villa Park on Monday authorized the purchase of a 2026 Altek LR 858 articulating aerial device (bucket) truck from Altek Industries under the Sourcewell cooperative purchasing program for an amount not to exceed $207,540.
Village Manager Andrew Harling said staff recommended including the cost of a four-year extended warranty to cover labor, materials and travel beyond the manufacturer's standard warranty. Public Works Director Mark Guerra clarified that the standard manufacturer warranty provides one year of coverage from delivery; within the first 90 days the dealer covers materials, labor and travel, but after that travel costs are no longer covered unless the village purchases an extended warranty. Director Guerra said the extended warranty would begin after the standard one-year warranty expires and would cover travel costs for service calls during the extended period.
Director Guerra also said structural components of the aerial equipment carry a lifetime warranty for as long as the village owns the truck, while other components are covered only for limited periods. He added that the new truck meets newer safety standards and is a non-CDL vehicle (gross vehicle weight under 26,000 pounds), which staff said will eliminate the need for costly five-year nondestructive safety inspections. Staff estimated the previous five-year test and associated repairs ran roughly $30,000 (with rising labor costs), and projected substantial long-term savings by buying the newer model.
Trustees asked about warranty options and costs. Staff said a five-year warranty option was available but considerably more expensive (staff cited roughly $74,600 for five years versus $61,100 for four years in the discussion). Trustees voted unanimously to approve the purchase and associated authorizations to issue a purchase order and include the expenditure in the 2025 budget.
The village listed the local service center as Grayslake for warranty service calls; staff noted travel distance will factor into the usefulness of an extended warranty.
