Fort Pierce approves $2.0 million financing to buy six refuse trucks amid complaints about missed collections

The Fort Pierce City Commission voted to accept a financing proposal to buy refuse trucks, approving Resolution 26-R-38 on June 15. Finance staff told the commission the financing is a five-year loan to acquire six refuse trucks; during the meeting clerical numbers were clarified and staff confirmed the note would be for $2,000,000 rather than the larger amount initially read into the record.

Finance staff said the purchase is budgeted in the city’s capital improvement program and that the city secured a market rate lower than a prior leasing estimate. “We got a 5 year loan at 3.8585 percent,” finance staff said during the presentation. Staff and the deputy city manager said three of the replacement trucks are already available and can be transitioned once financing documentation is complete.

Commissioners framed the purchase as an important step to address frequent missed collections driven by an aging fleet and noted additional constraints, including staffing and tipping fees. Commissioner Gaines asked, “If we approve this, how fast can we get these trucks?” The deputy city manager and city manager said several vehicles are ready to be transferred as soon as financing paperwork is executed, while staff emphasized that training and routing improvements are required to make new trucks effective.

The commission voted unanimously to accept the financing proposal. Several commissioners said they expect staff to follow up with a presentation on fleet routing, staffing needs and longer-term operational fixes at an upcoming meeting.