Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fleet Procurement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Seymour council authorizes purchase of replacement bucket truck after Unit 70 failures
Summary
Following repeated mechanical failures of utility Unit 70, the council authorized trading in the old unit and approved purchasing an AT Rex TL 48 bucket truck (approx. $260,000), subject to final deal paperwork; council cited utility‑fund capacity and need to maintain two working trucks.
Seymour city staff told the council one of the electric department’s bucket trucks (Unit 70) has experienced repeated mechanical failures and is now largely unusable. John Joyce, who introduced himself to the council as the electric department supervisor, described persistent problems and said local mechanics have declined to continue repairs.
"It's a lemon," Joyce said of the unit as staff outlined repair history and limited job capability with the truck. Council discussed options — repair, trade, or replace — and staff presented three replacement models with price estimates and delivery timing. The top recommended unit was an AT Rex TL 48, listed in staff materials at about $260,000 and available in February 2025; the Altek AT 41 option was discussed at around $200,000.
Trade‑in estimates discussed in the meeting ranged roughly from $8,000 to $10,000. Staff further reported that the utility fund held about $3,100,000 and that a consultant recommended retaining approximately $1,000,000 for liabilities; council noted financing options could include borrowing against reserves if necessary. After discussion, a council motion to trade in Unit 70 and to purchase the AT Rex TL 48 was moved and seconded; the council voted unanimously to proceed, with staff instructed to finalize the purchase paperwork.
Council framed the vote as necessary to keep the electric department operational and capable of restoring power reliably, and asked staff to bring a final agreement for review as part of the procurement process.
What happens next: Staff will finalize the purchase agreement and begin procurement paperwork; delivery timing discussed by staff was February 2025 for the preferred model.
