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Streets committee backs purchase of four replacement trucks and a brush chipper
Summary
The North Royalton Streets Committee unanimously recommended council approval of four Western Star replacement trucks and a Vermeer brush chipper, citing heavy December snowfall and aging equipment; the committee recorded unanimous 3–0 recommendations and noted a $30,000 saving on one unit by removing dump capability.
The North Royalton Streets Committee on Jan. 6 unanimously recommended that city council approve four replacement Western Star trucks and a Vermeer brush chipper to refresh an aging fleet and improve winter operations.
Service Director Nick Cinquepalmi told the committee the purchases are replacements, not expansions, to restore reliability after recent heavy snow operations. He said the department currently operates three tandem trucks, five single-axle trucks and an F600 4x4 for dead-end streets, and that December 2025 “was the hardest December that I have experienced in my 18 years,” with crews working daily on plowing, cleaning and repairs. He noted the city has 239 cul-de-sacs and about 270 lane miles to service, which requires multiple passes during storms.
Cinquepalmi explained that one single-axle unit was configured without a removable dump body and instead uses a fixed body dedicated to snow work; that change saved about $30,000 on the unit. He said the new vehicles are expected to arrive by next winter and that, if the council approvals proceed, purchase orders would be placed promptly. Committee members said the Service Department’s crews had been responsive throughout the season.
Chair Paul Marnecheck moved, and Committee Member Kaylee Green seconded, the motions to recommend approval of Ordinances 26-17, 26-18, 26-19 and 26-20. Each motion carried in committee by a 3–0 vote (Yeas: Paul Marnecheck, Sarah Wojslaw, Kaylee Green). The committee also recommended approval of Ordinance 26-21 to purchase a Vermeer brush chipper to replace a machine more than 20 years old; that motion likewise passed 3–0.
Council Member Mary Gorjanc noted the trucks had been budgeted at higher amounts and asked about the discrepancy; Cinquepalmi said estimates include a 10% contingency and dealers provide firm prices for limited windows, so the current, lower figures reflect savings from configuration choices and dealer pricing. Cinquepalmi emphasized that equipment reliability matters during peak events and that having replacement units available reduces the risk of being short-staffed during storms.
The committee’s recommendations move to full council for final consideration; delivery timelines and precise contract prices were described as firm pending council approval and order placement.
