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This is the second time the city requested bids for the vehicles. The first time, all three bids were over the $21,000 budgeted for each vehicle, with two bids declared ineligible as they were received after the deadline.
The city council then approved to make changes to the bid specifications, making sliding rear windows and power windows, locks and mirrors as options.
The sliding rear windows were requested for mosquito spraying.
This time, one bid was received from Wagner Ford, at $20,822 as a base bid for each vehicle, with the option of $800 for electric windows, locks and mirrors and $125 for a sliding rear window, per truck.
City staff felt it was worth it to go over the budgeted amount by $747 per vehicle and get both options, due to safety issues.
Various employees will be driving the trucks, McCook Public Works Director Kyle Potthoff told the council Monday night and power windows are handy when an employee is on a highway and a side mirror needs adjusted.
But the council disagreed. On a motion by Councilman Aaron Kircher, seconded by Councilman Lonnie Anderson, the base bid of $20,822 was approved, with only the option of a rear sliding window at $125 included.
Councilman Kircher said employees could stop on the side of the road and adjust mirrors, if needed.
Comments
Thank goodness the Council stood ground. $747 per vehicle may not sound like much however when you allow the employees to always "get what they want" and spend "just a little more", it adds up. These are our tax dollars. Instead of waiting to "stop on the side of the road and adjust mirrors", why don't they adjust them when they are entering the vehicle? I do believe that's what they teach you in driver's education...to make sure you can see out of every mirror and window prior to moving the vehicle into drive??? Thank you Mr. Kircher and Anderson!
Having comfort in a vehicle is one thing. Having fancy stuff that isn't needed is another. I know resale value is better with all options, but where does the city draw the line. Safety is the basic issue. Those trucks need to be basic work vehicles. No extra stuff included. That would cut the cost down and lessen the burden of us, the citizens, paying for it with taxes and tax increases.
Keeping the bids local is good, but if the price is less in another place, why not purchase it there?? The warranty is the same. And with the deadline of a bid, the city could extend the time of this longer than they do. I doesn't take too long to figure up a cost on a vehicle. The dealerships can get you a price with in an hour if you go there to buy a new one.