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Mankato council approves cooperative purchase of transit buses after resident urges longer service hours
Summary
The council voted unanimously to authorize a cooperative purchasing agreement with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services for transit buses; resident Nate Clark urged longer evening city‑bus hours and same‑day mobility rides during public comment.
The Mankato City Council on May 26 approved a resolution authorizing the city to execute an agreement with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services that allows cooperative purchasing of transit buses, a measure staff said will speed procurement of prequalified vehicles while preserving local purchasing controls.
The vote was unanimous. Council member McLaughlin moved to approve the resolution and Council member Deacon seconded; roll call recorded seven yes votes and no opposition.
The measure lets Mankato buy transit buses from suppliers that have already been through a state‑level qualification process, city staff said. “It allows the cities or partners who are part of that cooperative purchasing to be able to acquire products…in this case, for us, it would be transit buses, that have already gone through a state qualified bidding process,” City Manager Arntz explained during the discussion, adding the city will still follow its purchasing procedures and budget for purchases that exceed the city manager’s authority.
The council considered the procurement action the same evening a resident urged expanded transit service. Nate Clark, who identified himself as a Mankato resident and self‑advocate, told the council the “mobility bus” requires a three‑day advance reservation and frequently cannot accommodate requests, forcing riders to use the regular city bus that “doesn’t go everywhere, and it costs money.” Clark asked the council to “extend the bus times in the city of Mankato” and to “consider adding same day ride options for the mobility bus,” adding, “Our lives don’t end at 08:30PM.”
Council members recorded that the cooperative purchasing agreement does not bypass local oversight: staff said purchases under the agreement still require council approval and must be budgeted. The council did not amend the resolution and approved it as presented.
Next steps: staff may return with specific procurement details and budget requests should the city proceed to order buses under the cooperative agreement.
