Rushford Village council discusses Freightliner breakdown, rental options and winter plow performance

During the Dec. 2 regular meeting, Councilmember Mike Ebner reported recurring front-end failures on the Freightliner plow truck that had been repaired earlier this year. He said parts recently installed (less than four months old) have failed and Syverson Truck is pursuing warranty coverage with the parts supplier; parts availability is limited because the front-end components have to be manufactured.

Ebner said the truck may be at Syverson Truck for a multi-week repair and that the city has explored rental or lease options for a plow truck; he will request a copy of the warranty from Syverson to clarify potential rental-cost coverage. Councilmember Travis Link said he is open to renting a plow truck depending on Syverson’s response.

Planning/Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit and Ebner discussed operational trade-offs: the F550 does well on hard surfaces but does not clear gravel roads to subgrade, so the grader is used on rural roads despite slower progress. Pettit noted the F550’s tires have less tread than the previous F450 and recommended chains for the F550; the council agreed purchasing chains should be considered.

Ebner also noted that during the recent snow Darrin Dessner used the grader to plow county roads while staff followed with rock to improve traction, and that Syverson and Universal Equipment gave leads about truck sources. No formal equipment purchase decision was made at the meeting.