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Resident warns city about corroding garbage truck; staff pledges to hose off fleet
Summary
A resident told the Deer Lodge City Council that a city garbage truck is corroded and urged regular washing; staff said the city has hoses, is upgrading its pressure washer to reach exterior areas, and agreed to have crews clean the vehicle.
During the public comment period, a local resident identified himself as Jeffrey Howe and urged the council to take better care of the city's vehicles, singling out the municipal garbage truck.
"My name is Jeffrey Howe," he said before describing his concerns about corrosion on city vehicles. Howe said the city's $240,000 garbage truck "looks like ****" and warned that prolonged exposure without regular washing accelerates corrosion, based on his experience in the trucking business.
Council and staff responses: Council members thanked Howe for raising the issue and asked staff to look into it. Staff said the city currently uses hoses and is updating a pressure washer "in order to be able to reach outside" so crews can wash vehicles outdoors. One council member told staff, "We will certainly take care of that."
Why it matters: Council members noted the value of fleet maintenance to protect a high-cost asset and minimize long‑term repair costs. Staff agreed to inspect and clean the truck and to evaluate pressure‑washer reach for future cleaning operations.
Next steps: Staff (public works/police) will check the vehicle and, where appropriate, hose it off or schedule cleaning; the council did not adopt a formal policy at the meeting.
