Road department outlines new dump-truck purchases via joint bid and auction plans for surplus vehicles

Road department staff told the commission they plan to acquire new dump trucks using an ACCA joint bid for heavy equipment, expecting delivery in February or March and allowing time to surplus existing trucks at auction. Staff described a one-year warranty on the entire truck with certain components possibly carrying two-year warranties and said the main benefit of the joint bid is lower per-unit pricing for local governments.

Commissioners discussed purchase price estimates and the auction guarantee for surplus vehicles. One commissioner cited a per-vehicle purchase price in the low hundreds of thousands (the transcript includes figures discussed by commissioners and staff, but the exact contract price and guarantee amounts were not finalized during the work session). Staff said past auctions have sometimes produced net proceeds that exceeded the original purchase amount, but that auction results depend on market factors such as mileage, age and interest rates. The commission did not take final action during the work session and expects to move forward with procurement and surplus planning as budgeted and according to procurement rules.

Staff asked for follow-up research on lifecycle costs and maintenance history to inform the replacement schedule and whether guaranteed auction returns will cover expected expenses; one commissioner asked staff to supply maintenance-cost history dating back to the start of the rotation.