Photo by Vince Fedoroff
CITY HALL TO GET NEW VEHICLE – City council has OKed an additional $53,110 for the city’s annual budget for the replacement of a 3/4 ton, four-wheel-drive pickup truck for the bylaw department. The previous vehicle was wrecked in a collision in March.
Council has approved an additional $53,110 for the city’s annual budget for the replacement of a 3/4-ton, four-wheel-drive pickup truck for the bylaw department.
Council has approved an additional $53,110 for the city’s annual budget for the replacement of a 3/4-ton, four-wheel-drive pickup truck for the bylaw department.
The approval at Monday’s council meeting was not without challenges from councillors.
Some were curious about whether the city couldn’t possibly get by without the purchase until next year’s budget.
But administration assured council Monday and last week the 3/4-ton is necessary to haul around the trailer the bylaw department uses to transport two snowmachines in the winter and a side-by-side in the snow-free months.
One of bylaw’s 1/2-tons cannot pull the trailer safely to the various trail heads the officers visit frequently to patrol the trails, council was assured.
But both councillors Laura Cabott and Dan Boyd suggested they don’t have any problem hauling a trailer and two sleds with their 1/2-tons – nor do most people.
Mayor Dan Curtis, on the other hand, said if the issue is safety, then there should not be an issue.
Safety of staff is paramount, he suggested during discussions at Monday’s meeting.
The vehicle being replaced was destroyed March 17 when it was struck by another vehicle while stopped behind a vehicle turning left on Fourth Avenue.
The city’s insurance company is providing $15,000 for the 2011 model that was written off, and the purchase price for the new truck is $53,110, council was told.
The total replacement cost is $66,000, once all the gear like emergency lights and such are added to the new pickup.
Council was also asked to approve the sole-source purchase from Metro Chrysler Ltd., as going through the regular bid process would delay the purchase substantially, with no guarantees of a specific delivery date.
Metro Chrysler provided the lowest price of the local dealerships, with a two-week delivery date.
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Comments (9)
Up 11 Down 8
Atom on May 13, 2019 at 11:48 am
@frankmichigan
Please provide evidence of damage to the environment caused by ATVs and dirt bikes on your recent walks....they leave tracks...is that damage?....and if you were to ever reach for my keys your nose would never look the same again....so keep looking down it and your hands to yourself.
Up 2 Down 6
My Opinion on May 12, 2019 at 2:48 pm
@Frank
That wasn't even what this article was about. Aren't you the one ride pony.
Up 9 Down 0
My Opinion on May 12, 2019 at 2:47 pm
@TD
Just a thought but maybe the other person was not at fault.
Up 17 Down 1
TD on May 12, 2019 at 7:29 am
Why doesn’t the persons insurance that caused the damage pony up some of the cost?
Up 15 Down 7
Frank Michigan on May 10, 2019 at 3:24 pm
This truck is not required since a 1/2 ton can do the job and there is no safety issue.
Bylaw patrols are usually complaint driven so if you see someone breaking the laws you have to call many times before bylaw reacts.
Since most skidoo and ATV operators do not have license plates you pretty much have to follow them home and provide a street address to get bylaw to act.
Its actually time for residents to deal with the problems happening around town themselves. If you see underage children driving dirt bikes or quads on trails just stop them and take their keys away. If you see someone without a license plate just give them a warning and say next time you will take their keys away.
Bylaw is not going to do much even with staff and a new truck and quads etc. I know it's hard to get dirt bike insurance so most people do not have it. There must be a directive to not stop dirt bikers unless they cause an accident since they are immune from the bylaws.
I think council just wants trails on maps and hope no one complains because the problems and chewing up of sensitive areas happens right in from of them and they ignore it. If we want nice parks in the city they are best managed by the territorial government because the city is not capable of doing it.
Up 18 Down 2
Josey Wales on May 10, 2019 at 12:44 pm
Hey Dave...how could you pass on the mention of those submarines we bought years back, golden opportunity.
Hence me chiming in.
Your points are valid, please...carry on.
The trolley was used too. GASP I damn near forgot a golden opportunity as well...geez that was close.
Safety for they (CoW elites) I suppose just not our tourists, sailors and pilots...imagine eh?
Up 23 Down 0
Dave on May 9, 2019 at 5:40 pm
@ SCHolmes; back when I was in government and asked that same question about things I was always told government cannot buy used. Funny though how the feds just bought millions worth of 40 year old Australian fighter jets, so I think it’s one of those things where you get a different answer depending on what day you ask.
Up 22 Down 2
Howe on May 9, 2019 at 3:44 pm
The Bylaw Department should just sell the expensive ATVs and the snowmobile they purchased a few years ago and use the funds to purchase a used truck. After all, you never see that educational officer actually using the equipment. The Bylaw Department certainly knows how to waste the taxpayers money.
Up 33 Down 3
SCHolmes on May 9, 2019 at 3:01 pm
Couldn't they buy a used one?