Board reviews vehicle quotes as district plans for heavier snow‑removal demands
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Summary
Officials told the board that expanded asphalt and campus footprints are increasing snow‑removal needs and recommended replacing aging trucks; administration will seek clarification from vendors and bring purchase recommendations for board approval to avoid losing vehicles on dealer lots.
Facility staff told the Ralston board on Nov. 10 that rising campus asphalt and maintenance needs justify updating the district fleet.
Staff reviewed quotes for F‑350‑class trucks and larger dump/plow packages from multiple vendors (Baxter, Woodhouse, McMillan). The district’s current 1993 diesel F‑350 is still used but staff said it’s time for replacement. Presenters described tradeoffs between diesel and gas models, optional plow and dump packages, and an $8,000 price difference between certain quoted options tied to optional equipment packages.
Facilities staff said the district performs all snow removal internally — a rarity among nearby districts — and emphasized the operational benefit of newer, more reliable trucks and blades. The recommendation is to collect additional vendor details, decide on optional equipment, and bring a purchase motion to the board at a forthcoming meeting to preserve availability while vehicles remain on lots.
Why it matters: Reliable in‑house snow removal is a core operational need; replacing vehicles involves capital outlay but avoids recurring external contractor costs and operational disruption.
Next steps: staff will collect follow-up quotes and clarifications from vendors and plan to return with a purchase recommendation within weeks so the board can approve before specific vehicles are sold to other buyers.